Stop politicizing Dengvaxia issue, De Lima tells gov’t officials

“Kung gaanong nagbuhos ng panahon ang mga pinuno natin sa pag-iimbestiga sa ganitong isyu na may kaugnayan diumano sa pagkamatay ng mga bata, ganito rin sana tayo maging kapursigido sa pagpapanagot sa nasa likod ng pagpaslang sa libu-libong mahihirap na Pilipino.”

Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has urged the Duterte administration to stop politicizing the issue over the scrapped P3.5-billion Dengvaxia vaccine to avoid causing further public anxiety and paranoia.

De Lima, a known human rights defender, reminded public officials to prioritize the welfare of the Filipino children and their family first before focusing on spreading fake news about the issue.

“Ang paggamit sa isyu ukol sa Dengvaxia para lang sa politika, ang pagmamarunong at pagmamanipula ng ilan para kumalat ang espekulasyon na isang lason ang bakunang ito, ay malinaw na walang ibinungang mabuti,” she said in her Dispatch from Crame No. 303.

“Dahil sa fake news na naman, maraming magulang ang natakot na pabakunahan ang kanilang mga anak. Hysteria and paranoia are being peddled by these irresponsible politicians and fake public servants,” she added.

Last April 30, De Lima filed her Separate Dissenting Report on the Dengvaxia probe by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee headed by Sen. Richard Gordon.

The Committee Report recommended to file graft charges against former President Benigno S. Aquino III and former Health Secretary Janette Garin, among others, for being liable for the purchase of the dengue vaccines.

In her Dissenting Report, De Lima maintained the Committee Report cannot automatically equate reliance on available science vouched for by experts to graft and corruption, especially in the absence of clear and categorical evidence of interests other than public health.

The Senator from Bicol warned officials who are further demonizing the Dengvaxia vaccine that they are only worsening the situation because they are discouraging parents from availing other free government immunization programs for their children.

“Magulang din ako, at isa ring guro na walang ibang nais kundi ang kaligtasan at maayos na kalusugan ng ating mga anak at mag-aaral. Isantabi na sana ang politika. Isantabi na ang personal na agenda,” said the mother of two and former educator.

“Isipin na lang natin na lalo lamang kakalat ang mga sakit kung mismong mga libreng bakuna ay iniiwasan ng mga bata at magulang,” she added.

Instead of aggravating the issue on the Dengvaxia controversy, De Lima said she hopes her fellow government officials would focus on demanding accountability from those responsible for the unabated spate of killings under the Duterte regime.

“Ang nais lang din natin: Kung gaanong nagbuhos ng panahon ang mga pinuno natin sa pag-iimbestiga sa ganitong isyu na may kaugnayan diumano sa pagkamatay ng mga bata, ganito rin sana tayo maging kapursigido sa pagpapanagot sa nasa likod ng pagpaslang sa libu-libong mahihirap na Pilipino—kasama na rin ang mga inosenteng bata—sa ilalim ng gobyernong ito na aminadong walang pakialam sa halaga ng buhay, dignidad at karapatang-pantao.

“Ganito rin sana kasigasig ang paghahanap ng katotohanan at katarungan sa mga tunay, dumadami at lumalalang isyu ng bayan,” she said. (30)