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In a revealing interview on January 28, 2025, House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Garin spoke candidly about the intense pressure she faced to implicate former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III in the Dengvaxia vaccine controversy. This marks the first time Garin has openly shared the emotional toll and political dynamics surrounding the investigation.
The controversy, which began in 2017, revolves around the controversial rollout of the Dengvaxia vaccine—developed by Sanofi Pasteur—during the Aquino administration. The vaccine was initially hailed as a breakthrough in the fight against dengue but became a lightning rod for public outcry after concerns arose about its safety, leading to claims that it could worsen the condition in people who had never been infected by the virus. A series of adverse events, including the deaths of several children, sparked public fear and political backlash.
During the Duterte administration, Garin, who was then the Health Secretary, found herself at the center of the storm. In her interview, Garin recounted how she and others involved in the vaccine’s introduction were subjected to intense scrutiny. The most significant revelation came when Garin disclosed that she was coerced into signing an affidavit that would have directly linked the former president to the vaccine's problematic implementation. According to Garin, the pressure was intense, and the allegations against Aquino were entirely unfounded.
"When I was being investigated in the Senate, it felt as though they were treating me like a criminal when I had done nothing wrong. They were pushing us to sign an affidavit that would point to PNoy, but we couldn’t do it because it wasn’t true," Garin said emotionally.
The Political Underpinnings
The Dengvaxia scandal became deeply politicized, with Garin being blamed for approving the vaccine without adequate testing. However, it was clear that the investigation wasn’t just about public health; it was also about scoring political points. Garin’s revelations shed light on the political maneuvering behind the scenes during the Duterte administration. Garin accused certain individuals, including Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Persida Acosta, PAO Forensic Chief Edwin Erfe, and Dr. Anthony Leachon, of using taxpayer money to build cases against Filipino scientists.
Acosta, who has been vocal in accusing the Aquino administration of negligence in the vaccine rollout, had previously claimed that 166 deaths were linked to the vaccine. These claims sparked public outrage, despite a lack of conclusive evidence linking Dengvaxia to the deaths. According to Garin, the orchestrated efforts to implicate Aquino were politically motivated and designed to shift blame away from the administration that had approved the vaccine’s use.
The Emotional Toll
Garin also shared the personal toll the investigation took on her and her family. She spoke about how the Senate investigations affected her father, who suffered a stroke during the course of the inquiries. Garin emphasized that while she was being portrayed as a scapegoat for the controversial vaccine, the emotional strain was exacerbated by the attacks on her integrity and public image.
"It's difficult to be falsely accused of something you didn’t do. The stress it caused, not only to me but to my family, was overwhelming," Garin said, visibly emotional during the interview.
A Call for Accountability
In light of these revelations, Garin has called for accountability not just for those who politicized the Dengvaxia controversy but also for those who used the incident to further their own agendas. Garin’s admission also raises questions about the role of public officials and how political motivations can influence important public health decisions.
Her decision to speak out brings into focus the question of how science and public health initiatives can be manipulated for political gain, and how the public must remain vigilant to ensure that the real issues are addressed, rather than using crises to settle political scores.
The Broader Implications
The Dengvaxia issue serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of politicizing public health matters. It underscores the critical importance of transparency, accountability, and evidence-based policy-making, particularly in an era where misinformation and political polarization are rampant.
As for Garin, her testimony adds yet another layer to a complex and highly politicized controversy that has left many questions unanswered. With the public still divided on the issue, Garin’s revelations may be the key to unlocking the truth behind the Dengvaxia debacle, as well as a call to end the misuse of public health matters for political purposes.
The admission that the effort to implicate Aquino was politically motivated is a damning indictment of the forces at play during one of the most divisive health scandals in the country’s history. The hope now is that those responsible for manipulating the situation for political gain will be held accountable, and that the lessons learned will serve to protect future public health decisions from being tainted by similar motives.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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