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Saturday, August 25, 2007
DOJ drops raps v. game show host over stampede
* Charges against ABS-CBN execs retained
MANILA -- The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday dropped criminal charges against game show host Wilfredo "Willy" Revillame for the 2006 stampede that claimed the life of 71 persons who came to watch the ABS-CBN show "Wowowee" in its first anniversary celebration at the Philsports Arena (Ultra) in Pasig City.
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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 to Revillame's contention that three shows prior to the scheduled anniversary celebration were all pre-taped and the crowd then had yet to gather thus refuting allegations he was liable for allegedly issuing the 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.
"Not by any stretch of the imagination can the act of Revillame, by itself, naturally and adequately lead to the stampede that killed 71 people and injured hundreds more. Even a restless, excited crowd does not normally or logically result in stampedes and injuries of this magnitude. Obviously, another independent, separate act was committed, which became the ultimate proximate cause of the stampede that killed many of the audience," he said.
Records showed that on February 4, 2006, "Wowowee" was poised to celebrate its first anniversary and this was much publicized by ABS-CBN. A week before the event, promotion was intensified and Revillame repeatedly announced that free tickets will be given on a "first come-first served" basis.
Lucky ticket owners would then get a chance to win cash prizes, jeepneys, taxicabs, tricycles and even a house and lot.
On January 30, 2006, people started trooping to the Ultra to be able to participate in the show. More people came in droves and some even camped outside the venue, prompting the arrival of security guards and local barangay security forces.
By early morning of February 4, 2006, an estimated 30,000 people have gathered outside the Ultra.
Pronouncements made by the production staff that only 17,000 people will be allowed inside the venue prompted the crowd to panic and make a mad rush towards a steel gate, which suddenly gave in.
The crowd then surged forward the downhill terrain, causing them to tumble and fall. Some were pinned down and crushed by the oncoming wave of people.
An ensuing investigation by the interior department's Task Force Ultra and the National Bureau of Investigation recommended the filing of criminal charges against the respondents. Their investigation report was treated as a formal complaint. (ECV/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Zamboanga. (August 25, 2007 issue)
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