Less than five percent or only eight of the 164 Dengvaxia-related cases have been filed at a family court in Quezon City, according to the Public Attorney’s Office.
PAO chief Persida Acosta said 158 other cases are still pending before the Department of Justice’s National Prosecution Service.
“We are talking about only eight cases filed here, while 158 others are still pending. (Zuellig) Pharma (Corp.) has filed a petition with the Court of Appeals questioning the lower court’s jurisdiction of the civil cases filed against it,” Acosta said.
She noted that Branch 13 Judge Lily Ann Marcos-Padaen has set another hearing on the continuance of the testimony of a witness of the Dengvaxia victims on Feb. 23 after its previous setting on Feb. 16.
Acosta also expressed disappointment over the court’s order to strike out several questions and answers under the judicial affidavit of witness Dr. Clarito Cairo during the Feb. 16 hearing.
“PAO cannot do anything about it. It is the (city) prosecutor that has the control over it. Nevertheless, the boxing (game) is not yet over. It hurts,” she told reporters.
“PAO will do everything to help the victims of Dengvaxia,” she added.
Parents of children whose deaths were linked to the Dengvaxia vaccine, through the PAO, have filed charges against former Health secretary Janette Garin and Francisco Duque III and 37 others before the justice department.