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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider All Dengvaxia cases should be filed before Branch 107 QC RTC – PAO

All Dengvaxia cases should be filed before Branch 107 QC RTC – PAO

Published Jul 19, 2021 03:12 pm

Public Attorney's Office

Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors have been asked to file criminal cases involving the Dengvaxia vaccine before Branch107 of the Quezon City regional trial court (RTC).

Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Persida V. Rueda Acosta said RTC Branch 107, a family court, has been designated by the Supreme Court (SC) since Aug. 27, 2020 to handle all Dengvaxia cases.

Acosta made the call after DOJ prosecutors filed charges before the metropolitan trial court (MeTC) in Taguig City against the officials of Dengvaxia manufacturer, French pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur.

During a virtual press conference on Monday, July 19, Acosta said that under the Family Court Act, all cases involving children, whether alive or dead, should be handled by RTC family courts.

“Paano po tayo matatapos sa Dengvaxia criminal cases kung ganito (How can resolve these cases if it is like this),” said Acosta who explained that the wrong venue is causing delays in the resolution of the cases.

“Instead na dalhin sa RTC itong sumunod na Dengvaxia criminal cases, ibinalik na naman sa metropolitan trial court ng ating mga magigiting na prosecutors (Instead of filing before the RTC the succeeding criminal cases, our prosecutors filed the case before the metropolitan trial court),” she lamented.

Filed before the MeTC Branch 116 are charged against Sanofi Pasteur officials, Vicente Belizario, Gerardo Bayugo, Irma Asuncion, Maria Joyce Ducusin, Rosalind Vianzon, Mario Baquilod and Socorro Lupisan -- all physicians -- and Maria Lourdes Santiago. They were charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and violations of the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

PAO records showed that 157 cases involving Dengvaxia vaccinations have been filed before the DOJ with the deaths of 155 persons and sufferings sustained by two children.

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