Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian. INQUIRER FILE / RICHARD A. REYES
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said he might push to amend the criminal charges being proposed against former President Benigno Aquino III by a panel that investigated the P3.5 billion Dengvaxia controversy.
While he signed the draft report prepared by the Senate blue ribbon committee, Gatchalian said this did not mean that he would vote for it in the plenary.
鈥淗indi ibig sabihin tayo ay boboto dito sa report,鈥� Gatchalian said at a forum in the Senate on Wednesday.
Asked then if he would move to amend the draft report when it reaches the plenary, Gatchalian said: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 probably one of the few amendments that I will be proposing.鈥�
He said he had yet to study what specific amendments he would propose in lieu of the filing of criminal charges against Aquino.
The senator explained that when he affixed his signature in the draft report, he indicated that he was signing with reservations and that he might propose amendments on the floor.
鈥淪a aking pagbasa ng report at sa aking pag-analyze ng situation, si President Aquino ay hindi naman doctor . Sya ay nag re-rely sa advice ng kanyang mga Secretary lalo na pagdating sa medical and technical advices,鈥� he said.
鈥淲ala rin akong nakita sa report na sinadya ni President PNoy (Aquino) na i-administer ito dahil may mga hidden motives o merong bad faith. So, I鈥檇 assume that he administered Dengvaxia because it鈥檚 the advice of his Secretary of Health so yun po ang aking reservations鈥︹�� Gatchalian said, referring to former health Secretary Janette Garin.
The senator branded Garin as the 鈥減rime mover鈥� of Dengvaxia.
While Aquino may be held accountable because the anti-dengue mass vaccination was administered during his time, Gatchalian said the former president should not be held criminally liable as recommended by the panel.
鈥淗indi ako kumbinsido na criminally liable siya (Aquino). He might be accountable for the whole program because in the end, he鈥檚 the president and the president should be accountable for all the actions of the government,鈥� he said.
鈥淗owever, criminally liable? Hindi ako sang-ayon doon because in the end si Secretary Garin ang nag rekomenda,鈥� said the senator.
The senator recalled that during the time of Aquino, his family was also accused of a crime without basis. But in the end, he said all charges against them were dismissed by the Sandiganbayan.
鈥淪o, naiitindihan ko. Mahirap maakusahan ng isang bagay na walang basehan at alam mong hindi mo ginawa. Kaya, in fairness to everyone, hindi ko matanggap na magawa yun sa ibang tao,鈥� Gatchalian said.
At least 9 senators have already signed the draft report. Once it gathers the required majority signatures of committee members, the findings would be transmitted to the plenary for deliberations. /cbb
READ: Aquino, Abad, Garin 鈥榗aused鈥� Dengvaxia 鈥榯ragedy鈥� 鈥� draft report