Ultra stampede: Criminal raps eyed vs 17 ABS-CBN execs

A panel of prosecutors from the Department of Justice has recommended the filing of criminal charges against 17 executives and personnel of broadcast giant ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. for the stampede that killed 74 people in a rush for tickets of noontime game show "Wowowee" in Pasig City last Feb. 4

The show’s host Willie Revillame was also found liable.

In its report to Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, the five-member panel said Wowowee’s organizers failed to implement measures necessary to prevent a stampede.

"It cannot be said that the stampede was a fortuitous event or accident caused by criminal acts or third persons, hence, beyond their control and for which nobody should be liable," read the panel’s resolution, which recommended charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and multiple physical injuries.

"Exercise of reasonable care and due reflection" could have prevented the stampede.

Sought for comment, the ABS-CBN management maintained that network officials and Wowowee’s organizers did all they could to prevent a stampede.

"ABS-CBN disagrees with the decision of the DOJ to file charges against its officers and production staff for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and physical injuries as a result of the Ultra stampede last February," ABS-CBN spokeswoman Maloli Espinosa said in a statement issued to the media.

"Nevertheless, the DOJ’s decision is not the final ruling on this legal issue. It will be up to the courts of law to finally decide if the DOJ is correct and whether or not there is any criminal liability on the part of the ABS-CBN officers and production staff. ABS-CBN has full confidence in the legal system and has no doubt that justice will be ultimately served for all concerned," the statement said.

Espinosa gave assurances that ABS-CBN will continue to provide support and assistance to the victims of the stampede through its 71 Dreams Foundation, which was formed for the purpose.

Aside from Revillame, also found liable were ABS-CBN vice president for entertainment Ma. Rosario "Charo" Santos-Concio, senior vice president for television production Socorro Vidanes, executive producer Marilou Almaden, assistant vice president and head security Cipriano Luspo, Wowowee executive producer and manager Morly Stewart Nueva, associate producer for sets and technical Harold James Nueva, Wowowee director Norberto Vidanes, assistant location manager and security coordinator Rey Cayabyab, location manager Francisco Rivera, Wowowee assistant director Mel Feliciano and Wowowee floor director Jean Owen Ercia.

The panel also recommended a separate preliminary investigation against Pasig City Mayor Vicente Eusebio and several other officials for failing to provide assistance to the show’s organizers.

Also facing a possible investigation are former Pasig police chief Senior Superintendent Raul Medina, precinct station commander Senior Inspector Henry Asuela, Pasig City traffic and parking management chief Inspector Khaddafy Bitor, Philippine Sports Complex chief security officer Arnulfo Awa, Philsports Arena security coordinator Eugenio Cabigas and Orambo Pasig City barangay chairman Richard Pua.

Justice Secretary Gonzalez will now have to decide to uphold the panel’s recommendation.

About 30,000 people had massed outside Philsports Arena (formerly Ultra) in Pasig City to get into the Feb. 4 live broadcast of Wowowee, in which huge prizes were to be offered to the audience. But the stadium could only accommodate 17,000 people.

The crowd broke through a metal gate, trampling upon one another in the rush for tickets.

Fans had hoped to win jeepneys or houses or the top prize of P1 million, a special offering on the show’s first anniversary.

Around 40 percent of Filipinos live on about P100 a day, and game shows like Wowowee that offer substantial prizes have a huge following.

An initial inquiry by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) had concluded that the show’s organizers and ABS-CBN failed to provide adequate security for fans and could be held criminally liable for the tragedy.

The panel cited at least three unnamed ABS-CBN executives for negligence.

ABS-CBN demanded another "impartial investigation" into the stampede, noting that members of the DILG panel included police officials who ABS-CBN believes should also share blame for the tragedy.

Interior Undersecretary Marius Corpus, the head of the DILG fact-finding panel, said ABS-CBN treated the thousands of Wowowee fans "like animals, made to suffer inconveniences and made to fight for raffle tickets."

Corpus later apologized for the statement after ABS-CBN chief executive Eugenio Lopez III expressed outrage and denied the network treated fans shabbily.

ABS-CBN officials maintained that Wowowee’s organizers did all they could to ensure safety.

In their Jan. 17 letter to Eusebio, the show’s organizers had asked the Pasig City government for police assistance, saying they expected an audience turnout beyond Philsports Arena’s capacity and that a stampede was possible.