Dengvaxia victims, families need justice — Panelo

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang expressed hope yesterday that justice would be attained for the victims and families of children who allegedly died after being injected with the anti-dengue Dengvaxia vaccine.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo also urged stakeholders not to politicize the issue after the Department of Justice (DOJ) recommended the filing of eight counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against former health secretary Janette Garin and nine others.

“The wheels of justice have began to grind for the victims and families of children who died allegedly because of the Dengvaxia vaccine, with the DOJ finding probable cause to charge former officials responsible for the failed immunization program initiated during their time,” he said.

“Now that the legal process has taken its course, we wish everyone would finally stop politicizing the issue in the court of public opinion, noting that such exercise has only caused unnecessary fear on the part of parents for good and creditworthy health programs of the government to the detriment of innocent children,” Panelo added.

Apart from Garin, the DOJ panel found probable cause to file charges against DOH physicians Vicente Belizario Jr., Kenneth Hartigan-Go, Gerardo Bayugo, Lyndon Lee Suy, Irma Asuncion, Julius Lecciones, Maria Joyce Ducusin, Rosalinda Vianzon and Mario Baquilod.

The DOJ also recommended eight counts against physicians Socorro Lupisan and Maria Rosario Capeding, from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine; and Carlito Realuyo, Stanislas Camart, Jean Louis Grunwald, Jean Francois Vacherand, Conchita Santos and Jazel Anne Calvo from Dengvaxia-manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur Inc.

Four counts of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide were also recommended against Ma. Lourdes Santiago and Melody Zamudio of the Food and Drug Administration. 

“As for the defendants, they should welcome this latest development as an opportunity to clear their names and raise whatever defense they have in relation to the matter before a court of law,” Panelo said.

He assured the public that Malacañang will respect the DOJ proceedings.

“As always, we will not interfere in the proceedings save for the DOJ, which is mandated by law to prosecute accused felons,” he said.

“We hope that true justice and peace will be attained as this is the only way we can deliver proper closure to the victims of the vaccination initiative and their families,” said Panelo, who is also chief presidential legal counsel.

Meanwhile, the DOJ yesterday expressed hope that the indictments would not create fear and panic over the government’s vaccination programs.

“The (DOJ) clarifies that the findings of neglect against those who administered the immunization program using Dengvaxia should not, in any way, be used to stoke public fear of vaccination,” said DOJ Undersecretary and spokesman Markk Perete in a statement. 

Perete added that the DOJ panel’s resolution “in fact reiterates the high degree of accountability and caution demanded of those who adopt and implement policies and programs involving public health.”

‘Why exclude Noy, others?’

But Senate Blue Ribbon committee chairman Sen. Richard Gordon said the DOJ should have filed anti-graft or plunder charges against government officials implicated in the Dengvaxia fiasco.

“Quite frankly, I am a bit disappointed because I figured (that the involvement of former president Benigno Aquino III, former budget secretary Florencio Abad and company should have been investigated),” Gordon said in English and Filipino in an interview over dwIZ. – With Evelyn Macairan, Cecille Suerte Felipe