The Public Attorney’s Office on Monday threatened to file fresh criminal suits against former Health Secretary Janette Garin, now a lawmaker for Iloilo, and former and incumbent health department officials in September before the Department of Justice for the deaths of seven more children who were inoculated with the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine.
At a Zoom media briefing, Dr. Erwin Erfe, PAO forensics chief, said:
“Our lawyers are already drafting the criminal cases for the seven deaths that were subjected to forensic examination.”
“(At least) 101 civil cases are being prepared by the panel of PAO to be filed with the Quezon City Regional Trial Court in September,” he added.
When asked if incumbent Health Secretary Francisco Duque III is included in the new criminal complaints, Erfe said: “He is included in the civil cases.”
PAO chief Persida Acosta added: “(Duque) is included, particularly in cases wherein he continued with the vaccination during his term.”
The PAO officials said the new criminal and civil charges would be filed against the same respondents in the previous 155 counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, and two other charges for the damages done to two survivors.
Those to face charges are Garin and the other respondents in the previous cases—drugmaker Sanofi Pasteur Inc. and the vaccine’s distributor, Zuellig Pharma Inc.
As of June 29, Erfe said, PAO has filed 56 civil cases.
The lower court has set an arraignment on Garin and the other respondents, and a pre-trial conference on Sept. 20, he said.
In November 2017, Sanofi, on its official website, said Dengvaxia could be harmful when administered to individuals not previously infected with dengue.
In April 2016, the Department of Health implemented a school-based mass vaccination and administered the Dengvaxia vaccines to 830,000 school children and even policemen.