Friday, August 24, 2007
DOJ ditches raps v. game show host over Ultra stampede (6:03 p.m.)
MANILA -- The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday dropped the criminal charges against game show host Wilfredo "Willy" Revillame in connection with the 2006 tragic stampede that claimed the life of 71 persons who came to watch the ABS-CBN noontime game show “Wowowee” during its first anniversary celebration at the Philsports Arena (Ultra) in Pasig City.
In a resolution, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez granted the petition for review filed by Revillame seeking a reversal of the finding of probable cause for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and physical injuries by Senior State Prosecutor Leo Dacera III against him.
Charges will be pursued however against 16 other ABS-CBN officers who organized the show, namely Charo Santos-Concio, Ma. Socorro Vidanes, Marilou Almaden, Cipriano Luspo, Moly Stewart Nueva, harold James Nueva, Norbert Vidanes, Rey Cayabyab, Francisco Rivera, Mel Feliciano, Jean Owen Ercia, Engineer Jesus Belardo, Erlinda Reis, Rosenbar Viloria, Wilfron Onanad, and Chito Payumo.
Gonzalez gave weight on Revillame's contention that three shows prior to the scheduled anniversary celebration were all pre-taped and that the crowd then had yet to gather thus controverting the allegations that he was liable for allegedly issuing invitation to viewers to come to the Philsports Arena despite the already massive crowd at the site.
"This circumstance effectively negated the resolution's conclusion that Revillame, despite knowledge of the crowd congestion outside the Ultra, recklessly continued to invite more people to the venue; and thereby contributed to the tragic consequences," he said.
Gonzalez said even if Revillame made such utterances, it was not the proximate cause of the stampede. (ECV/Sunnex)
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