MANILA, Philippines — Complainants from the third batch of Dengvaxia cases filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday called for acting Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon to inhibit from handling their cases.
In their motion to inhibit, the complainants were apprehensive that their case against former health officials could end up like the first batch of complaints that had already reached the court..
On the first batch of cases, particularly concerning the deaths of children Aejay Bautista and Jansyn Art Bataan now pending before the Caloocan City Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) Branch 83, the prosecutors, instead of submitting evidence pursuant to the order of the court, opted to file amended charges to make it one count of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide, instead of two counts.
“It is our position that there are as many crimes for Reckless Imprudence as the number of children,” read the motion to inhibit.
They insinuated that bribe money may have changed hands to lessen the number of charges against the defendants, who include former Health Secretary Janette Garin.
Fadullon denied the allegations and dared the complainants which is being represented by the Public Attorneys’ Office (PAO) to substantiate their allegation.
“While I commiserate with the victims for their loss, they should exercise caution and prudence before making baseless accusations,” Fadullon said in a text message.
“If the private complainants or the PAO have any iota of proof that I received any bribe, they should come forward with their evidence. If it were really true that bribes were indeed paid, why would we indict the respondents just the same? I challenge the complainants and the PAO to substantiate their accusations, as I reserve the right to file charges against them if this frivolous charges prove untrue,” he added. /je