(UPDATE) A NEW judge from the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QC-RTC) has been named to handle the criminal cases regarding the alleged misuse of the anti-dengue Dengvaxia vaccine.

The vaccine, procured by the Department of Health (DOH) for P3.5 billion for a nationwide jab campaign in 2015, was allegedly not evaluated thoroughly for safety and efficacy, leading to the deaths of many children.

In a one-page order, a copy of which was obtained by The Manila Times, Judge Michael Ken De Jesus of Branch 102, a family court, set the hearing for Sept. 16, 2025, at 8:30 a.m.

De Jesus is currently conducting an inventory of the cases.

Before De Jesus, Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert of the same branch handled the case. No reason was given for her replacement., This news data comes from:http://vv-uaa-exc-udy.gyglfs.com

Court sources said the new judge is expected to hear several motions and counter-motions filed by the defense and prosecution panels.

Members of the Samahan ng mga Magulang ang mga Anak ay Biktima ng Dengvaxia (SMABD) on Thursday welcomed the development.

New Quezon City judge to oversee Dengvaxia vaccine cases, sets hearing

Since the cases were filed in 2016, at least five QC judges have taken turns handling the cases, but they were replaced for various reasons, including involuntary or voluntary inhibition.

New Quezon City judge to oversee Dengvaxia vaccine cases, sets hearing

“We are appealing to the judge to start hearing the case. He must not entertain the dirty tactics of the defense counsels because we, parents, have already been suffering as we continue to grieve for the untimely deaths of our children due to Dengvaxia,” SMABD President Sumachen Dominguez said, speaking in Filipino.

Former Health secretary and now Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin is the principal accused in the reckless imprudence resulting in homicide case filed by parents and relatives of over a hundred schoolchildren whose untimely deaths were linked to the vaccine.

Garin and top executives of vaccine maker Sanofi Pasteur Inc. and vaccine distributor Zuellig Pharma, and officials of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and Food and Drug Administration, were also facing civil cases before the QC-RTC.

The Public Attorney’s Office has been providing legal assistance to the SMABD.