FORMER President Benigno S.C. Aquino on Monday, Feb. 26, slammed an “unqualified” forensic expert during the House inquiry into the Dengvaxia controversy where he appeared as resource person.

“Masakit po nito: Lahat na lang po may opinyon, kwalipikado man o hindi, lalo na po yung isang maingay na ang certification ay tila isang antas lang ang lamang sa nabibiling diploma sa Recto,” Mr. Aquino said, reading from his prepared statement.

Mr. Aquino alleged that the certification of the forensic expert came from a “questionable course.”

“Galing po ang certification ng maingay na ito, sa kwestyunableng kurso kung saan manonood ka lang raw ng video ng isang oras kalahati, saka mag-exam na open book, at matapos mong magbayad ng 660 dollars ay certified ka na sa forensics (The certification of this expert is from a questionable course, where you just watch a video for one-and-a-half hours, then take an exam, and after you pay $660 you are a certified forensic expert) ,” he said.

The former chief executive also said that it is the duty of the government to appease the public in times of calamity.

This is after parents are reportedly resisting the other immunization programs of the Department of Health (DoH).

DoH Secretary Francisco T. Duque III made the same call during the hearing and added that other government agencies should be “prudent” in releasing statements about the Dengvaxia vaccine to avoid creating hysteria and affecting the programs of the department.

Mr. Duque added that the Public Attorney’s Office and the University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital, which are conducting separate studies, should work together in investigating the deaths possibly linked to the anti-dengue vaccine.

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