PAO files Dengvaxia raps anew

MORE DENGVAXIA CASES. State prosecutors at the Department of Justice (DOJ) go through documents of complaints filed by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) in connection with the Dengvaxia controversy on Monday (Nov. 18, 2019). Chief Public Attorney Persida Rueda-Acosta earlier said her agency will not back down in pursuing criminal charges against those allegedly responsible for the death of schoolchildren erroneously subjected to the Dengvaxia anti-dengue vaccine. (PNA photo by Benjamin Pulta)

MANILA — A fresh batch of criminal complaints have been filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday by the parents of schoolchildren who died from complications that allegedly arose after they were administered the anti-dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia.

The victims were schoolchildren from Metro Manila and Bulacan, namely Psalm Dioquino (Bulacan), Lalaine Laylay (Las Piñas), Levie Losanga (Quezon City), Theresa Romano (Bulacan), and Lennon Carl Ribo (Taguig City).

The families were assisted by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) under Chief Public Attorney Persida Rueda- Acosta.

In past charges, named as respondents were former Health secretary and now Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, incumbent Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, among others.

The respondents were accused of reckless imprudence resulting to 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, the Anti-Torture Act of 2009; and for 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.

The other respondents were former and incumbent officials of the Department of Health, Food and Drug Administration, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and executives of pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur and local distributor Zuellig Pharma.

Acosta has earlier requested the Supreme Court to designate a single family court to handle all the cases arising from the Dengvaxia cases.