Charge Duque over Dengvaxia, PAO urges DOJ

The Public Attorney's Office (PAO) on Thursday urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to reconsider its decision to clear Health Secretary Francisco Duque III of charges in connection with eight alleged Dengvaxia-linked deaths.

Representing the parents of children who allegedly died of the vaccine's "adverse effects," the PAO filed a motion for partial reconsideration seeking Duque's indictment for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, violation of the anti-torture law, and obstruction of justice.

Last month, the DOJ indicted former Health chief Janette Garin and 19 others for allegedly circumventing regulations in buying P3.5-billion worth of the vaccine.

Complaints against Duque, former Department of Health officer-in-charge Herminigildo Valle, and officers of vaccine distributor Zuellig Pharma were dismissed for insufficiency of evidence.

The PAO has also moved for the reconsideration of the parts of the DOJ resolution which cleared Valle, the Zuellig officers, two officers of Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur.

It also appealed the dismissal of the complaint filed by the father of Rei Jazztine Alimagno, the one out of nine complaints in the first set of charges that did not succeed at the DOJ level.

Investigating prosecutors had said it was not proven the child was inoculated with Dengvaxia. In its motion for reconsideration, the PAO said this was a matter of defense that should be threshed out during trial.

On Thursday, PAO chief Persida Acosta said her office has learned that the DOJ has not yet filed cases in court. — Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/RSJ, GMA News