Former Department of Health (DOH) secretary and now Iloilo First District Representative Janette Garin has commended the decision of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to withdraw the 98 criminal cases filed against her in connection with the anti-dengue vaccine.
The decision “is a victory for truth, justice, and science,” according to Garin, who is a medical doctor by profession.
“It affirms that public health decisions based on sound evidence and expert guidance cannot be tainted by baseless accusations. Justice has prevailed, and I welcome this ruling with gratitude and renewed commitment,” she said.
The DOJ ordered the withdrawal of the 98 counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide charges filed against Garin and DOH undersecretary Gerado Bayugo and former DOH assistant secretary Ma. Joyce Ducusin.
In a resolution signed by Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, DOJ said it does not find a prima facie case with reasonable certainty of conviction against the respondents.
“In the scheme of things that transpired involving Dengvaxia, we found that the step-by-step procedures undertaken by the respondents do not exhibit inexcusable lack of precaution to hold them liable.”
The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) filed a motion for reconsideration following the DOJ’s order.
In a report by the Philippine News Agency, PAO blamed Dengvaxia vaccines purched by DOH-6 in 2016 for the deaths of a number of children who got inoculated by the vaccine.
“The 60 Dengvaxia casualties we have examined had these adverse effects attributed to the vaccine – internal organ bleeding, edema and hemorrhages,” said PAO chief Persida Acosta.
“Dengvaxia has side effects as admitted by Sanofi (Dengvaxia maker Sanofi Pasteur) in December 2016 before the vaccine was bought -allergic anaphylactic reaction, viscerotropism, neurotropism and/ or severe dengue,” she explained.IMT
