PAO files 6 new criminal raps vs Garin over Dengvaxia

MANILA, Philippines — More criminal complaints have been filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against former Health Secretary Janette Garin.

This as the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) lodged fresh complaints on the death of six more children, who received anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia.

The six new complaints filed were for the deaths of Angela Palubarit, 11; Maricel Manriza, 12; John Marky Ferrer, 11; Charmel Flordeliz, 10; Jonell Dacquel, 13, and Kenchie Ocfemia, 11.

PAO Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta, who accompanied the complainants, said there will be more complaints that will be filed before the DOJ over deaths related to Dengvaxia.

“Natapos na namin ang 142 forensic autopsies,” Acosta told reporters.

(We have so far finished the autopsy on a total of 142 victims.)

“Ninety-eight pa ‘yung ipa-file namin,” the PAO chief added, noting that a total of 44 complaints have so far been filed before the DOJ.

(We will file 98 more cases.)

Of the 44 complaints, 32 complaints composed of the first, second, and third batches of cases are on the preliminary investigation stage at DOJ.

A panel of prosecutors chaired by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Arnold Magpantay recently concluded the preliminary investigation of the third batch of complaints.

Prior to this latest filing, PAO also filed six complaints, which have yet to undergo preliminary investigation, for the deaths of Aldred Aberia, Ana Lisa Silverio, Eira Mae Galoso, Leiden Alcabasa, Riceza Salgo, and Micaella Mainit.

Under the 12 latest complaints, respondents are accused of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide under Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code; torture resulting in the death of a person and torture committed against children under Republic Act 9745 and the Anti-Torture Act of 2009; and violating RA 7394, the Consumer Act of the Philippines, particularly, the mislabeling of drugs and devices, liability for defective products, and liability for product and service imperfection.

Garin has been named respondent in all 12 complaints while current Health Secretary Francisco Duque III was named respondent in the complaint filed by the parents of Galoso.

Other respondents named in all or some of the complaints are current and former Department of Health (DOH) officials, namely, Dr. Vicente Belizario Jr., Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go, Dr. Gerardo Bayugo, Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, Dr. Irma Asuncion, Dr. Julius Lecciones, Dr. Joyce Ducusin, Dr. Herminigildo Valle,Rosalind Viianzon, and Mario Baquilod.

Also named as respondents in the complaints are Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials Dr. Maria Lourdes Santiago and Melody Zamudio; and officials of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), namely, Drs. Socorro Lupisan and Maria Rosario Capeding.

Dr. Sonia Gonzales of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) and Dr. Raymundo Lo, a former PCMC official, were likewise named respondents in the complaint.

Executives of Sanofi Pastuer and local distributor Zuellig Pharma were also included as respondents: Carlito Realuyo, Stanislas Camart, Jean Louis Grunwald, Jean-Francois Vacherand, Conchita Santos, Jazel Anne Calvo, Pearl Grace Cabali, and Marie Esther De Antoni, all from Sanofi; and Kasigod Jamias, Michael Becker, Ricardo Romulo, Imran Babar Chugtai, Rayumund Azurin, Nilo Badiola, John Stokes Davison, Marc Franck, Ashley Gerard Antonio, Ana Liza Peralta, Rosa Maria Chua, Danilo Cahoy, Manuel Concio III, Roland Goco, and Ma. Visitacion Barreiro, all from Zuellig Pharma. /kga