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Manila Bulletin devider devider Former Health Secretary Janette Garin, co-respondents set to file rejoinders at DOJ

Former Health Secretary Janette Garin, co-respondents set to file rejoinders at DOJ

Published Jul 10, 2019 04:42 pm
By Jeffrey Damicog Former Health Secretary Janette Garin and her co-respondents are expected to file before the Department of Justice (DOJ) Thursday (July 11) their respective rejoinders over the third batch of complaints concerning the deaths of persons who received shots of the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia. Former Health Secretary Janette Garin gestures during the Inquiry into the implementation of the DOH Health Facilities Enhancement Program including the alleged irregularities in the Barangay Health Stations Project in Pasay city, July 4, 2018. (Czar Dancel / MANILA BULLETIN) Former Health Secretary Janette Garin
(Czar Dancel / MANILA BULLETIN) A DOJ panel of prosecutors chaired by Senior Assistant Prosecutor Arnold Magpantay is currently conducting a preliminary investigation over the third batch of complaints. The panel is expected to determine whether to wrap up the conduct of the preliminary investigation with the filing of the rejoinders which contains arguments insisting on the dismissal of the complaints. The complaints concern the deaths of 13 persons who got inoculated with the vaccine, namely, Senior Police Officer 2 Vicente Arugay Jr. and children Crezel Ann Joy Viaros, Adeline Castroverde, Wiljen Alcontin, Eleazar Brigoli Jr., Trishanne Asona, EJ Christian Apa, Joanina Cortes, Gladimier Juevesano, Kianah Mae Racuya, Shiela Mae Guerra, Gillian Vasquez,and Kristel Jean Magtira. Under the complaints, the respondents are accused of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide under Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code; torture resulting in the death of a person and torture committed against children under Republic Act 9745, the Anti-Torture Act of 2009; and for violating RA 7394, the Consumer Act of the Philippines, particularly, the mislabeling of drugs and devices, liability for defective products, and liability for product and service imperfection. Garin has been named as respondent in all 13 complaints, while, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III is included as respondent in five of the complaints. The others who were also named as respondents in all 13 complaints are Department of Health (DOH) officials Dr. Vicente Belizario Jr., Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go, Dr. Gerardo Bayugo, Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, Dr. Irma Asuncion, Dr. Julius Lecciones, Dr. Joyce Ducusin, Rosalind Viianzon, and Mario Baquilod. Also named as respondents in the complaints are Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials Dr. Maria Lourdes Santiago and Melody Zamudio; and officials of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), namely, Drs. Socorro Lupisan and Maria Rosario Capeding. Executives of Sanofi Pastuer and local distributor Zuellig Pharma are also included as respondents. Sanofi Pasteur executives named as respondents are Carlito Realuyo, Stanislas Camart, Jean Louis Grunwald, Jean-Francois Vacherand, Conchita Santos, Jazel Anne Calvo, Pearl Grace Cabali, and Marie Esther De Antoni. While, those from Zuellig Pharma are Kasigod Jamias, Michael Becker, Ricardo Romulo, Imran Babar Chugtai, Rayumund Azurin, Nilo Badiola, John Stokes Davison, Marc Franck, Ashley Gerard Antonio, Ana Liza Peralta, Rosa Maria Chua, Danilo Cahoy, Manuel Concio III, Roland Goco, and Ma. Visitacion Barreiro. Also named as respondents in some of the complaints are Dr. Herminigildo Valle also of the DOH; Dr. Sonia Gonzales of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC); and Dr. Raymundo Lo, a former PCMC official.
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