Public Attorney's Office chief Persida Acosta has lauded President Rodrigo Duterte for extending the utilization of PAO's maintenance and other operating expenses for the use of its forensic laboratory division.
At a news conference, Acosta thanked the President for his support. “We are still allowed to proceed with our forensic examinations until 2020,” she told reporters.
He maintained the legality of their forensic services and laboratory, saying in 2017, the Department of Justice even directed PAO to conduct investigations into Dengvaxia-linked deaths.
Dr. Erwin Erfe earlier announced the temporary suspension of the forensic laboratory division after Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman inserted amendments to the National Expenditure Program/General Appropriations Bill limiting the use of MOOE for the operation of PAO's forensic laboratory division.
Acosta wrote the President, asking him to “veto the inserted special provision in the GAB limiting the PAO in the use of its MOOE and prohibiting the use of funds for the meetings and other maintenance and operating expenses of the PAO Forensic Laboratory Division.”
Last Thursday at a private funeral parlor in Quezon City, Erfe, along with other forensic doctors, conducted an autopsy on the 151st victim, who received two vaccine shots of Dengvaxia in 2017 and in February 2018 at a health center in North Caloocan City.
“Surprisingly, there was still a vaccination in 2018,” he said.
The 14-year-old victim who suffered from dengue in September died due to cardiorespiratory arrest on Dec. 26 early morning.
She was also diagnosed of having leukemia in November.
Erfe said based on forensic findings, the victim1 suffered from the enlargement of her liver and other internal organs and massive bleeding in the brain.
Acosta has tapped Dr. Erfe, PAO's forensic laboratory division chief, to conduct an autopsy on the body of a 14-year-old girl believed to have died due to Dengvaxia vaccine at a funeral parlor in Quezon City.
Meanwhile, Erfe disclosed the offer of reconciliation of Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin.
"It is misplaced. First, there is no personal animosity involved, just professional. I do not know her personally nor have I ever met her. I saw her in the hearings in the Senate and the House (of Representatives). But that is just that," he said.
"Secondly, if the thought of reconciliation is sincere, then it is laudable. But I seriously doubt that. If it is, she should have asked forgiveness instead from the countless families of Dengvaxia victims, who have died and (are) sick in hospitals, and offered to help them, not merely reconciliation," he added.
Moreover, Erfe said "thirdly, I'm a forensic investigator, and the physical evidence gathered in our investigation, regardless of my inclination, is not subject to reconciliation."
Garin and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, along with other former and active health officials, have been charged with reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide due the massive school-based Dengvaxia vaccination in 2016 until 2017.