Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate if there was an anomaly in the Aquino administration's acquisition of P 3.5-billion worth of Dengvaxia vaccine from Paris-based drug firm Sanofi Pasteur.
Aguirre made the order through Department Order 763 addressed to NBI Director Dante Gierran.
The move was upon the instruction of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Aguirre told the NBI to launch a case build up on the issue and file criminal complaints if former health officials would be found liable for allowing the vaccination of anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia to school children across the country.
Two years ago, more than 700,000 Filipino school children received shots of Dengvaxia through the Department of Health (DOH).
The issue caused public uproar after Sanofi Pasteur announced that the vaccine poses the risk of severe reaction for those who were immunized even if they have not contracted the dengue illness.
Philippines was the first Asian country to administer the vaccine to persons aged 9 to 45 years old in December 2015.