FAMILIES of at least 10 persons who died after receiving the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia will file criminal complaints before the Department of Justice (DoJ) by the end of the month, Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta said yesterday.
“Sa October 30 more than 10 cases isasampa namin,” said Acosta, adding that the complainants will be assisted by PAO legal counsels.
She noted that the cases included seven deaths from Cebu, the death of a policeman and a doctor, all of whom had been given Dengvaxia shots.
Acosta said that they are among the already 92 dead victims who were autopsied by the PAO forensics team led by Dr. Erwin Erfe.
Among the victims, complaints concerning the deaths of 17 children are pending at the DoJ.
The DoJ is set to conclude this Oct. 30 the conduct of its preliminary investigation on complaints concerning the deaths of nine children – Aejay Bautista, Anjielica Pestillos, Lenard Baldonado, Zandro Colite, Abbie Hedia, Jansyn Art Bataa, Mark Axel Ebonia, Reijazztine Justin Alimagno, and Alexander Jaime.
Former Health Secretary Janette Garin has been named in all of the nine complaints, while Health Secretary Francisco Duque III is respondent in two of the complaints. (Jeffrey Damicog)
