By Jeffrey G. Damicog
Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta said more persons will be charged over the purchase and distribution of the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia now being blamed for scores of deaths.
Acosta made the statement after the PAO filed before the Department of Justice (DoJ) last April 5 criminal complaints against former Health Secretary Janette Garin and 34 others for the deaths of four children who got vaccinated with Dengvaxia.
“May part two pa po ang filing na ito,” she said.
The PAO chief reminded that the Senate blue ribbon committee headed by Sen. Richard Gardon also conducted an inquiry on the Dengvaxia issue but has yet to release its report.
“So pag labas po ng resulta ng Senate we will be filing a supplemental complaint in accordance with such recommendation,” she said.
Apart from this, she said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is currently conducting its own probe on the P3.5-billion purchase of the vaccine in the last administration.
Acosta said the PAO was directed to handle deaths, injuries and illnesses related to the vaccine.
Last April 5, the PAO filed four separate complaints before the DOJ concerning the deaths of Aejay Bautista, who was 11 years old when he died on January 24, 2018; Anjielica Pestillos who was 10 when passed away on December 5, 2017; Lenard Baldonado who 10 when expired on November 9, 2017; and Zandro Colite who was just 11 when he died on December 27, 2017.
