Now that indictments have been recommended against former officials over the alleged deaths involving the Dengvaxia vaccine, Malacañang made an appeal Saturday for all parties to stop discussing the issue in public as this has already had adverse effects on the country’s other health programs.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo
(OPS / MANILA BULLETIN) - Photo from Manila Bulletin
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the statement after the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Friday that it found probable cause to indict former Health Secretary Janette Garin and several others over the alleged Dengvaxia-linked deaths.
“The wheels of justice have began to grind for the victims and families of children who died allegedly because of the Dengvaxia vaccine with the Department of Justice (DOJ) finding probable cause to charge former officials responsible for the failed immunization program initiated during their time,” Panelo said Saturday.
“We hope that true justice and peace will be attained as this is the only way we can deliver proper closure to the victims of the vaccination initiative and their families,” he added.
In his statement, Panelo, however, appealed to the public to stop politicizing the Dengvaxia controversy because it discredits other health programs of the government and brings about undesirable results.
“Now that the legal process has taken its course, we wish everyone would finally stop politicizing the issue in the court of public opinion, noting that such exercise has only caused an unnecessary fear on the part of parents for good and creditworthy health programs of the government to the detriment of innocent children,” he said.
Medialdea also gave the assurance that the Palace will not interfere with the court cases that Garin and her co-accused will face.
“As for the defendants, they should welcome this latest development as an opportunity to clear their names and raise whatever defense they have in relation to the matter before a court of law,” Panelo said.
“As always, we will not interfere in the proceedings, save for the DOJ, which is mandated by law to prosecute accused felons,” he added.
The DOJ said there were enough grounds to indict Garin, nine health officials, two officials of the Food and Drug Administration, two officials of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, and six from Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur.
State prosecutors, however, dismissed the same complaint against incumbent health chief Francisco Duque III, former DOH officer-in-charge Herminigildo Valle, two Sanofi Pasteur officials, and 15 Zuellig Pharma officers.
“The Panel found sufficient evidence that Garin and the other respondents circumvented various regulations in the purchase of P3.5 billion worth of Dengvaxia vaccine which constituted proof of their reckless imprudence,” the statement said.
Garin earlier said in her counter-affidavit that the available data and information on Dengvaxia at the time the vaccines were purchased all pointed to its safety and efficacy.
If convicted, Garin and the other respondents face up to six years in prison for each of the accusations.
The government stopped the implementation of the Dengvaxia vaccine late 2017 after Sanofi warned that the vaccine might cause severe symptoms if given to those who did not have Dengue before.
Source and Original Article from: >>> Manila Bulletin
Comments