New complaints filed vs Garin, others for Dengvaxia deaths
Another string of criminal complaints has been filed against former health secretary Janette Garin and 36 others before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the death of three children inoculated with the Dengvaxia vaccine.
Complaints for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and for violations of the Anti-Torture Act and Consumer Act were filed against Garin, other former and incumbent health officials, as well as executives from the manufacturer of the Dengvaxia vaccine, Sanofi Pasteur Inc., and the local distributor Zuellig Pharma Corporation.
The separate complaints were filed by parents of Clarissa Alcantara, Erico Leabres, and Christine Mae De Guzman.
Alcantara, 12; Leabres, 10; and De Guzman, 10, all died reportedly after receiving the controversial vaccine.
With these new complaints, the total number of complaints filed by the Public Attorneys’ Office (PAO) on behalf of the families of the children is 15.
READ: DOH list of Dengvaxia deaths grows
Like in previous complaints, the three complaints alleged that Garin and other executives have been negligent for “arbitrarily, maliciously, and deliberately failure to inform the Dengvaxia recipients and their parents/families of the dangers and risks related to Dengvaxia and to obtain their informed consent.”
The complaint also noted that the DOH under Garin failed to conduct proper screening of Dengvaxia recipients and to implement active and aggressive monitoring and surveillance of the recipients, considering the risks posed by the vaccine to seronegative recipients or those who had no history of dengue infection.
The other complaints filed by PAO are related to the deaths of Aejay Bautista, Anjilica Pestilos, Lenard Baldonado, Zandro Colite, Abbie Hedia, Jansyn Bataan, Mark Axel Ebonia, Rey Justin Almagno, Alexander Jaime, Naomi Nimura, Michael Tablate and John Paul Rafael.
The 12 complaints are still undergoing preliminary investigation. /ee
READ: Garin wants ‘malicious, twisted’ Dengvaxia raps junked
