Willie urged to ensure safety in ‘Wowowin’
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Sat, 26 Jan 2019 06:18:52 +0000
A senior administration congressman yesterday called on popular television host Willie Revillame to give more premium on ensuring safety and security for the audience attending his television show “Wowowin.”
Parañaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting, chairperson of the House Committee on Games and Amusement, issued the appeal following reports that two female fans of Revillame were hospitalized after they accidentally fell from the bleachers during the taping of the show regularly aired on GMA-7.
One of the victims, Estrella Bognot, suffered a serious injury that caused her death. The other, Milagros Espiritu, suffered a fractured bone and is now recuperating.
Tambunting, also a senior member of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, recalled that it was also a jampacked Revillame show that caused the death of 73 people during a stampede on Feb. 6, 2006. At least 400 others were injured in the incident that occurred at PhilSports Arena (formerly Ultra) in Pasig City.
An estimated 30,000 people, mostly lured by prizes of cash and valuables, showed up at PhilSports to attend Revillame’s show, the now defunct “Wowowee” and once a regular noontime staple at ABS-CBN, for its first anniversary presentation.
Revillame was cleared from criminal charges in a resolution issued by the Department of Justice. On the other hand, ABS-CBN and its executives questioned the DoJ’s authority to conduct an investigation but their opposition was junked by the Supreme Court.
Tambunting said that while Revillame may not be entirely blamed for accidents occurring in his television show, he still has the responsibility to insist that his fans are fully secured and safe while attending his shows.
“The Ultra and GMA accidents may be unrelated. But both incidents underscored the need for the show producers and even the actors to implement stricter and stronger measures to keep everybody safe and secured,” said Tambunting. (Ben R. Rosario)