IN PHOTO: PUBLIC Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta personally filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) a total of 100 criminal complaints against former Health Secretary now Iloilo Representative Janette Garin and concurrent Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday morning, November 25, in connection with the Dengvaxia vaccine mess. Acosta made sure they can now pursue the case against the two officials. (JEFF TUMBADO)
A total of 100 criminal cases against former health secretary now Iloilo Representative Janette Garin and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III were simultaneously filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) in connection with the Dengvaxia vaccine mess.
Tons of documents and evidences were unloaded from two closed vans and submitted to the DOJ as to the formal filing of criminal charges by over 100 families who continuously decries their children’s death.
According to Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta, there are still two more complaints to be filed which included in the 101 total number of cases.
Earlier, the PAO also filed nearly 60 complaints against those personalities implicated in the Dengvaxia controversy.
As in the previous complaints, families are accusing the main respondents Duque, Garin and dozens more of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, violation of the Anti-Torture Law and the Consumer Act. The case of violation of the Pharmacy Act was also added.
The DOH had earlier asserted that the allegation regarding the involvement of Dengvaxia in the deaths of the children has not been substantiated.
Duque also accused Acosta of spreading fear in the public regarding vaccination. The PAO Chief has also denied Duque’s allegations.
According to one of the complaining parents, Sumachen Dominguez, the mother of the Dengvaxia vaccine only survivor, insisted that their evidences backed by science are solid as steel and clearly both Garin and Duque must have held accountable for the death of their children who suffers tremendous pain before dying.