The Department of Justice (DOJ) has officially withdrawn 98 counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against former Department of Health (DOH) Secretary and now Representative Janette Garin.
The case was linked to the controversy surrounding the alleged deaths of several individuals due to the Dengvaxia vaccine.
In a resolution signed by DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, the agency ordered the prosecutor general to immediately retract the charges initially filed in the Quezon City Regional Trial Court against Garin and co-accused Dr. Gerardo Bayugo and Dr. Ma. Joyce Ducusin.
Remulla stated that the evidence presented was insufficient to prove the liability of Garin and the other accused in the case.
Meanwhile, Garin, who is also the Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, shared her relief over the decision, saying she hopes that the scientists and health experts who were greatly affected by the controversy will also be included in future considerations.
Despite the withdrawal of these charges, Garin emphasized that the fight continues as several cases remain pending.
She noted the emotional toll, expressing that it was painful to think that the issue had been politicized, harming many health experts in the process.
Garin shared that out of 158 criminal cases and 32 civil cases filed against them, eight criminal cases had already been dismissed after proving that the children had not been vaccinated with Dengvaxia.
She called for an end to the diversion from the real issues and urged authorities not to give false hope to the parents of the children involved in the case.
Rep. Garin also extended her sympathy to the parents who lost their children due to Dengvaxia, saying she understands their pain, as she too experienced a similar loss when her father passed away while she was being heavily criticized over the vaccine.