HEALTH SECRETARY Francisco T. Duque III on Thursday was slapped with another criminal complaint over the alleged Dengvaxia-related death of 13-year-old Jan Syn Bataan, in addition to a similar complaint filed on April 19.
The victim’s parents, Darwin and Merlyn Bataan, charged Mr. Duque, former Health secretary Janette L. Garin, several government officials, and officials of Sanofi Pasteur, Inc. and Zuellig Pharma Corp. with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and for violation of the Anti-Torture Act of 2009 for their involvement in the previous administration’s mass Dengue vaccination program.
They claim Mr. Duque is liable as he was the incumbent head of the Department of Health head when the young Bataan was vaccinated on Nov. 29, last year.
Mr. Duque had previously described these complaints, submitted with the help of Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida V. Rueda-Acosta, as “full of malice” and “harassment.”
ACOSTA ON COA REPORT
In another development, Ms. Rueda-Acosta has denied alleged anomalies in PAO disbursements as flagged by the Commission on Audit (CoA).
“Hindi po iyan red flag (That is not a red flag),” she told reporters Thursday, reacting to the CoA report released on April 30 tagging as anomalous PAO’s release of funds for the design and construction of a new office building without all the necessary documents.
According to the report, the complete documentary requirements to support the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between PAO, the National Housing Authority, and the Department of Public Works and Highways “were not submitted inconsistent with the provisions of the MoA.”
PAO released two separate checks for the project worth P1.8 million and P3 million.
Ms. Rueda-Acosta explained that the payments were “progressive billing,” where they release funds “pag may natapos na na phase dun sa design (once a phase is completed in the design).” —Dane Angelo M. Enerio
