DOJ: Pending Dengvaxia petitions handled in accordance with rules
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice will resolve petitions involving Dengvaxia cases in accordance with law and jurisprudence, the agency stressed after the chief of the Public Attorney’s Office accused the country’s prosecutorial agency of bias.
“The Dengvaxia complaints would be resolved purely on the merits of the case,” the DOJ said.
The justice department issued the statement after PAO chief Persida Acosta filed a motion accusing the National Prosecution Service of bias and conflict of interest because Jesse Hermogenes Andres is an undersecretary with the DOJ.
Andres was a counsel of former Department of Health secretary and now Rep. Janette Garin (Iloilo). The DOJ said that Andres had withdrawn as Garin’s lawyer and had inhibited from taking part in the resolution of pending cases.
“It is totally unfair for PAO chief Persida Acosta to ascribe to the DOJ and to Undersecretary Andres and impropriety or undue influence on the case,” the DOJ said, adding the agency will strictly implement existing rules and mechanisms on avoidance of conflict of interest.
The justice department also stressed that Acosta’s call for the DOJ to abdicate on its duty to prosecute the cases and for PAO to take over the prosecution is contrary to law and is not within the mandate of the office. PAO is an attached agency of the DOH which provides free legal assistance to indigent litigants.
“There is neither factual nor legal basis for the disqualification of the DOJ,” it said.
In 2017, the Philippines suspended its dengue vaccination program following the announcement of French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur that Dengvaxia could cause severe dengue if given to those without prior exposure to dengue.
Other countries dealt with the announcement by updating guidelines. But in the Philippines, it sparked political drama and breakdown of public trust in vaccination following unfounded claims that the anti-dengue vaccine caused the deaths of children inoculated with it.
In a position paper on Dengvaxia vaccine, the World Health Organization said the vaccine has been shown in clinical trials to be efficacious and safe in persons who have had a previous dengue infection.
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