DOJ starts probe of 8 more Dengvaxia cases

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday started its preliminary investigation on the second batch of criminal complaints over the deaths of schoolchildren inoculated with the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine.

The complainants – parents and guardians of eight victims – appeared before the investigating panel chaired by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Susan Dacanay to personally subscribe to their complaints.

They affirmed their charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide under the Revised Penal Code and violations of Anti-Torture Act and Consumer Act against former health secretary Janette Garin and 36 other health officials as well as executives of manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur Inc. and distributor Zuellig Pharma Corp.

The DOJ panel then summoned Garin and other respondents to answer the charges and submit their counter-affidavits in the next hearing set for Oct. 29.

The second batch of complaints filed by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) covers the deaths of Clarissa Alcantara, Christine Mae de Guzman, Erico Leabres, Roshaine Cariño, Naomi Nimura, John Paul Rafael, Michael Tablate and Christine Joy Asuncion.

The PAO has so far documented at least 94 deaths from the controversial vaccine.