FORMER Health secretary now House deputy majority leader Janette Garin (Iloilo) and her co-defendants yesterday posted bail at the Sandiganbayan in relation to two criminal charges filed against her last month by the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged irregularities in the procurement of P3.556 billion worth of Dengvaxia vaccines in 2015.
Prosecutors had earlier recommended that bail be set at P90,000 for the graft case and P18,000 for the technical malversation charge.
Named co-accused in the graft case were former Health undersecretary Gerardo Bayugo, undersecretary Kenneth Hartigan-Go, OIC director Joyce Ducusin, and former Philippine Children’s Medical Center executive director Julius Lecciones.
Except for Bayugo, the other three were also included as Garin’s co-defendants in the technical malversation charge.
Informants in the court said the Sandiganbayan Second Division issued a resolution yesterday declaring that it found probable cause against all the defendants in both charges, which is a basis for the issuance of warrants of arrest against them. However, all the accused posted bail yesterday afternoon, preempting the issuance of the arrest warrants.
In a statement released to reporters, Garin expressed relief that the cases are already moving forward.
“Posting bail is part of the agonizing process to prove our innocence. It is a crucial step in ensuring fair trial and safeguarding one’s rights,” she said.
She voiced hope there will be no hitch in the court proceedings, saying any risk that the trial could create a fear of vaccines would set back public health care.
She noted that the accusations relative to the issue of Dengvaxia, an anti-dengue vaccine, have caused a significant drop in vaccine confidence, leading to measles and polio outbreak in the Philippines.
“We hope that this first step into cleansing our name can be dealt with timely so that scientists and doctors can perform our regular tasks. Resolving the issue once and for all is aligned with the Doctors for Truth clamor because global history has taught us that any vaccine demonized, usually spreads to include other vaccine-preventable diseases, and results to outbreaks,” Garin said.
Prosecutors said the former health officials unlawfully diverted funds from the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund to push for the procurement of Dengvaxia vaccines.
Garin contested allegations that the funds used for dengue vaccine were intended for other purposes, saying the special allotment release order issued by the Department of Budget and Management specified that the sum was for the procurement of vaccines.
