PNP chief clarifies: QC cop died of leptospirosis, not of Dengvaxia

PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. Noy Morcoso / INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

The Philippine National Police (PNP) disputed on Thursday the report of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) claiming that a policeman may have died because of the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine.

PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa belied the PAO report saying that the policeman from Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 6 died of leptospirosis and not caused by the Dengvaxia.

Dela Rosa said the policeman was not even a recipient or had been given Dengvaxia vaccine.

Earlier, PAO forensics chief Erwin Erfe informed the public on social media that the policeman died probably due to Dengvaxia side effects.

“Merong silang [PNP Health Service] findings na leptospirosis yung kinamatay, so far yung lang ang pinanghawakan nating facts about the case,” Dela Rosa said in a press briefing in Camp Crame.

(The PNP Health Service found that his death was leptospirosis. So far that is the only fact that we have known about the case.)

Dela Rosa also said that the 50-year-old police officer was not one of the 4,000 police personnel vaccinated with Dengvaxia because the vaccine was only administered to those 45 years old and below.

Erfe on Wednesday posted on Facebook a photo of him talking to the family of the police officer explaining the supposed results of the forensic analysis on the victim’s body.

The doctor said his team’s initial forensic findings show the victim had an “extensive bleeding in the brain, bleeding in lungs, heart, liver, kidneys and intestinal tract.”

Dela Rosa said the PNP was not hiding anything about the death of the policeman and assured that the victim’s family would receive the benefits he was entitled to.

“Sa mga nagdoubt na baka nagduda kayo na we are trying to hide something, trying to cover up huwag po kayo mag isip ng ganun kasi by covering up we will gain nothing,” Dela Rosa said.

(For those who doubt that we are trying to hide something, trying to cover up, do not think of that because by covering up, we will gain nothing.)

The police chief urged his men to have themselves checked regularly at the PNP Health Service. /jpv

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