Garin faces new Dengvaxia complaint

A new complaint has been filed against former Health Secretary and now Iloilo congresswoman Janette Garin, along with others, before the Department of Justice (DoJ) over deaths allegedly linked to the Dengvaxia vaccine.

Four individuals, who chose to remain anonymous, filed the complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against Garin and other former officials. They also face accusations under Republic Act 9745, or the Anti-Torture Act of 2009.

The complainants claim Garin and others violated the Consumer Act of the Philippines and the Philippine Pharmacy Act.

This new complaint comes just a day after the DoJ withdrew 19 counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide previously filed against Garin and two others.

Garin, in response, said she would await a copy of the complaint and described the DoJ's decision to drop the charges as a "victory for science."

"It affirms that public health decisions based on sound evidence and expert guidance cannot be tainted by baseless accusations," Garin said in a statement.

Meanwhile, relatives of the Dengvaxia victims have called on Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to reinstate the 98 cases he previously dismissed.

In 2017, the FDA ordered the suspension of the sale, distribution, and marketing of the Dengvaxia vaccine, along with its withdrawal from the market.

Before that, Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi had warned that the vaccine could cause severe diseases in individuals who had not been previously infected with dengue.