Solon wants PAO forensic lab merged with NBI

Iloilo Representative Janette Garin wants the forensic laboratory of the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) merged with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Forensic Laboratory.

This, after she questioned the legal basis of the creation of the PAO Forensics Laboratory, which conducted autopsies on the bodies of children who supposedly died due to the Dengvaxia vaccine.

Garin was among sued by PAO chief Persida Acosta over the deaths of minors linked to the Dengvaxia vaccine.

It was during the term of Garin as health secretary that the Dengvaxia vaccination program was implemented.

During the House plenary deliberations on the proposed 2020 budget of the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday night, Garin quizzed its sponsor, Compostela Valley Representative Ruwel Gonzaga, whether the creation of the PAO Forensics Laboratory was provided in the PAO Law.

She pointed out that under the PAO Law, only five line divisions are created, namely: Administrative, Financial and Management, Special and Appealed Cases, Legal Research and Statistics, and Field Services Division.

Gonzaga explained that while Garin's explanation was true, it was then Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II who issued a department order allowing the PAO to conduct forensic examinations.

After not getting the answers she wanted, Garin moved to suspend the deliberations on the DOJ's budget.

The deliberations were resumed after a few minutes, with Gonzaga conceding that the creation of the PAO Forensics Laboratory was not provided under the PAO Law.

Garin then presented the findings of the PAO Forensics Laboratory in their autopsy of the bodies of Reynaldo "Kulot" De Guzman and Kian Delos Santos, who were both killed during police anti-drug operations, and Christine Lee Silawan, the teenager who was found dead in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu with her face skinned.

She pointed out that the findings of the PAO Forensics Laboratory were inconsistent with the findings of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory and the NBI.

Gonzaga agreed that based on Garin's presentation, the PAO findings were "conflicting" with those of the PNP.

"I may suggest that these cases be taken up by the DOJ and for them to study, reassess, evaluate and give Congress the report if there is any," Gonzaga said.

Garin welcomed the suggestion of Gonzaga, saying that it was the DOJ who can police the PAO.

She then proposed to combine the NBI Forensic Laboratory and that of the PAO.

"Baka naman pwede, para huwag naman nating sayangin ang pera ng bayan, yung binabayad ni Juan at Maria, bakit hindi na lang natin pagsamahin ang NBI Crime [sic] Laboratory and the PAO Forensic Laboratory?" Garin said.

"May I inquire if there will be no objection if at the proper time, we will make the necessary motion to transfer the PAO Forensic Laboratory and combine with the NBI Crime Laboratory just to put order in the House," she added.

Gonzaga suggested the DOJ to conduct further studies to consider the proposal of Garin.

"I would assure that the DOJ will give us the report as soon as they have the report," he said.

Garin also requested for the submission of comprehensive report stating the sources of the funding for the operations of the PAO.

"Naniniwala ako na sa administrasyon ni Pangulong Duterte, walang lugar ang mga pasaway, walang lugar ang redundant na trabaho, at walang lugar ang kurapsyon," she said.

In November 2017, the government suspended the school-based dengue vaccination program after Sanofi Pasteur, the French pharmaceutical company that manufactured Dengvaxia, advised against prescribing the vaccine to patients who have not acquired the dengue virus before due to the severe diseases it may cause in the long run.

The vaccine was said to have posed health risks to more than 700,000 school children who were administered with it. —LDF, GMA News