Senate panel to summon PAO chief, forensic expert

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate blue ribbon committee on Tuesday said it will issue a subpoena to officials of the Public Attorney’s Office who skipped the probe into the Dengvaxia vaccine for the third time.

Sen. JV Ejercito, chair of the Senate committee on health, moved to subpoena PAO Chief Persida Acosta and Dr. Erwin Erfe, PAO forensic laboratory director .

He said that whatever information PAO has will be helpful to the investigations.

“This representation feels that their findings will be very significant. Government agencies should work together. I don’t understand why PAO doesn’t want to work with the experts of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital,” Ejercito said.

He added: In the future, if we file a case against Sanofi, we don't want to waste all our efforts. We will lose by technicality. It will be good to have a concerted effort.”

READ: Duque: Leave Dengvaxia investigation to experts

On Sunday, a group of medical experts including former Health chief Esperanza Cabral urged the Public Attorney’s Office to stop performing autopsies on children who allegedly died after being vaccinated with Dengvaxia.

The group added that PAO should “leave the matter of determining the cause of death to competent forensic pathologists.”

But Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday said PAO autopsy on suspected deaths from Dengvaxia vaccine will proceed despite objections from experts.

The review of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital found that three of the 14 who died after being vaccinated with Dengvaxia had contracted dengue.

PAO has filed a civil suit over the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine, asking for more than P4 million in damages for the family of a 10-year-old girl whom the agency claims died after receiving the anti-dengue vaccine.

Acosta led the filing of the civil case against 30 respondents, including former Health officials, headed by Garin, the board and officers of Sanofi and of distributor Zuellig Pharma Corp.

READ: Government: PAO autopsies on vaccine deaths to continue