PAO’s Erfe says Duque should resign: ‘Puro lip service’

Public Attorney's Office (PAO) forensics chief Dr. Erwin Erfe called on Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque to quit from his post over the Dengvaxia mess.

"Puro lip service lang naman si Secretary Duque eh. Lahat ng sinasabi niya doon ay hindi naman totoo. Kinakailangan kumilos naman sila kung hindi kaya ni Secretary Duque, dapat siguro mag-resign na siya eh," Erfe said in a 24 Oras report by Ivan Mayrina on Wednesday.

When asked for his reaction to Erfe's comment, Duque said he will just focus on his obligations as the head of the Health department.

"Everybody is entitled for his or her opinion. Ako, trabaho lang. I'll do what I need to do," Duque said.

Erfe also maintained that there is a "strong" connection between the controversial vaccine and the deaths of the children his office has autopsied.

"What we are seeing is a strong link between Dengvaxia vaccination at saka 'yung pagkamatay nung biktima. 'Yun ang sinasabi namin pero hindi namin sinasabi na ito ay conclusive findings," Erfe said.

The PAO has conducted autopsies on 26 children who are said to have died after being given doses of Dengvaxia, as part of a case buildup against the officials who approved the use of the vaccine.

At least 830,000 schoolchildren have been vaccinated with Dengvaxia since the program was launched in April 2016. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BM, GMA News