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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Parents seek inhibition of QC RTC judge from 35 Dengvaxia cases

Parents seek inhibition of QC RTC judge from 35 Dengvaxia cases

Published Dec 29, 2023 07:43 am

A Quezon City regional trial court (RTC) judge has been asked to inhibit himself from handling the Dengvaxia cases after having ordered the consolidation of the 35 complaints into one case. 

Sought to recuse himself was Judge Cleto R. Villacorta III in a petition filed by the Samahan ng mga Magulang Anak ay Biktima ng Dengvaxia (SMABD) and the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC).

At the same time, the SMABD and VACC asked the suspension of the proceedings on the cases until a new judge has been designated.

They said the 35 cases involved 35 persons, mostly children, who died after getting shots of Dengvaxia, an anti-dengue vaccine.

In an order dated Dec. 7, 2023, Judge Villacorta partially granted the separate motions to dismiss the complaints against five of the accused in the cases including former health secretary and current Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette L. Garin

The Dec. 7 court order states: "In view thereof, the Motion to Quash is partially granted. Criminal Cases nos. R-QZN-23-07131 to 54-CR and R-QZN-2307159 to 69-CR are hereby quashed, pursuant to the pronouncement in Ivler v. Modesto-San Pedro that there shall be no splitting of charges under Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code and that only one Information shall be filed regardless of the number or severity of the consequences of the imprudent or negligent act."

“The Prosecution is given fifteen (15) days from receipt hereof within which to file a single Information against all the accused for Reckless Imprudence resulting to Multiple Homicide and Serious Physical Injuries," the order also stated. 

In their motion for inhibition, SMABD and VACC said the children did not receive the vaccine at the same time and at the same place.

“Hindi rin sila sabay-sabay na nagkasakit at na-ospital. Lalong hindi sila sabay-sabay na namatay (They did not get ill and brought to the hospital at the same time. They did not die at the same time),” they said in their motion.

They alleged that the court order was also contrary to the directive of the Supreme Court (SC) which they said “hindi maaaring pag-isahin ang mga nabanggit na kaso sapagkat magkakaiba ang mga biktima at magkakaiba rin ang kanilang medikal na kondisyon (the cases cannot be consolidated because the victims were different from each other and each had different medical conditions).”

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