DOJ orders Janette Garin to answer Dengvaxia raps

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has again summoned former health secretary Janette Garin and other officials to answer the criminal charges filed against them over the deaths allegedly caused by the Dengvaxia vaccine.

In a hearing on Tuesday, the investigating panel chaired by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Arnold Magpantay ordered Garin and the other respondents to appear before the DOJ to submit their counter-affidavits on charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and violations of the Anti-Torture Act and Consumer Act for the third batch of cases.

The other respondents are Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and executives of Sanofi Pasteur and Zuellig Pharma, manufacturer and distributor, respectively, of Dengvaxia.

The third batch of Dengvaxia cases involved the deaths of Wiljen Alcontin, Eleazar Brigoli Jr., Trishanne Asona, EJ Christian Apa, Joaniña Cortes, Gladimeir Juevesano, Kianah Mae Racuya, Adeline Castroverde, Jessica Viaros, Senior Police Officer 2 Vicente Arugay, Shiela Mae Guerra, Gillian Vasquez and Kristen Jean Martira.

 The DOJ, through another panel chaired by Assistant State Prosecutor Maria Emilia Victorio, has concluded its probe on the first batch of cases involving the deaths of nine schoolchildren: Aejay Bautista, Angelica Pestilos, Lenard Baldonado, Zandro Colite, Abbie Hedia, Jansyn Bataan, Mark Axel Ebonia, Rey Justin Almagno and Alexander Jaime.

 An investigating panel chaired by Senior Associate Prosecutor Susan Dacanay has completed its hearing on the second batch of cases involving the deaths of Clarissa Alcantara, Christine Mae de Guzman, Erico Leabres, Roshaine Cariño, Naomi Nimura, John Paul Rafael, Michael Tablate and Christine Joy Asuncion.

 Another case was filed before the DOJ on Tuesday over the death of 12-year-old student Zarah Mae de Luna from Quezon. She died in November 2017.

 It was the 32nd complaint filed before the DOJ over the anti-dengue vaccine.