Panic-induced stampede aggravated by narrow exits, lack of exit and crowd control plans — scientists

i beg to differ with abs-cbn’s staunch defenders who claim that the network DID NOT expect and NEVER KNEW that thousands would flock to the venue. A day before the event, ABS-CBN’s sky patrol reported it live on MUP – the “wowowee diehards” lining up for the event. The network INVITED them. They wanted to show the world how popular the program was. Despite the fact that they knew that Ultra could not possibly accommodate all spectators who came, they still enticed them to storm the venue, luring them with millions and millions of prizes. Indeed, it was an accident waiting to happen. Unfortunately for abs-cbn, the accident did happen. And now this…

It is not enough that abs-cbn shoulder the hospitalization or the the burial expenses. For God’s sake, LIVES were lost. Dozens of lives were lost.

ABS-CBN must be held liable. Ultra must be held liable. They must pay for their neglect.

Accidents such as these are avoidable.
Pero bakit nangyari?
Dahil sa kapabayaan.

Huwag na muna nating ilayo ang isyu.
Huwag na munang haluan ng pulitika ang kaganapan.
Kung sisisihin ninyo ang poverty sa pangyayari, then i dare you to persecute poverty.

Hindi ako naninisi.
Pero may dapat managot.
Definitely, not the throngs of wowowee fans who trooped to ultra.

Not the president.
Not the lowly guards on duty.

Alam na natin kung sino.

I accept that ABS-CBN has liability sa stampede na nangyari pero wag nyong alisin sa eksena ang local government at pulis sa eksena. Ang local government din ay may pananagutan kasi di naman nagkulang sa paghingi ng permiso ang network..ang problema itong local government ay walang pakialam sa mga nangyayari.

Sabi nyo nga halos isang linggo nang nakapila ang mga tao at doon na rin mismo sa pila nila ginagawa ang mga personal na tawag ng kalikasan at pagkain..ang tanong ko lang, wala bang ni isang taga-gobyerno o pulis na nagronda para malaman ang sitwasyon? Sa permisong ibinigay ng local government ay nasasaad dito na merong limitasyon ang mga tao sa paggamit ng kalye at outside sa permitted perimeter ay pulis na ang may kontrol nito. Ang pulis ang may discretion kung papaalisin nila ang tao o hindi na nasasakupan ng kanilang controlled areas.

Ang report ng Investigative committee ay napaka-bias! Hugas-kamay ang mga pulis kasi kasama sa kumite si Kengkoy Querol!

Gantihan na lang ang nangyayari ngayon kaya kawawang ABS-CBN kasi umeepal na naman si Gagonzales at Ermitanyo.

I won’t comment on the stampede it does not help the victims. nalilito lang sila. they don’t know where to listen. Who’s right or wrong. Lahat magagaling.

Let us just pray for all of the victims. ALL means those who died, the families the injured. those who suffer in pain physically and mentally.
those from WOWOWEE staff, ULTRA, PNP, City of Pasig, Resident of the area. etc etc. All are victims…

Just pray…..Amen

I am writing to you this blog to commend the chairman of TFC for accepting responsibility for the recent mishap at the Ultra. Mr Lopez’ acceptance of responsibility is admirable.

I am a former TFC subscriber in Concord, California. I moved to another location in the bay area, which unfortunately is not currently covered by my local cable provider. These days, I am able to enjoy some of ABS-CBN’s television programming through its affiliate, KTSF in San Francisco, which airs Philippine daily news and a couple of other noon-time shows during the weekend.

From an outsider’s point of view, it is clear to me that ABS-CBN would not have been able to take sole ownership of the crowd control for the event. It also appears to me that the initial fact-finding board appointed by the government might have lacked all the facts because of the deadline they were given.

My prayers go out to the family of those who were affected by the mishap. In my view however, one must realize that this was a mishap. No one was forced to go to attend the TV show out of his or her own will.

I am certain that the Arroyo government has every good intention to have the mishap investigated. Mrs. Arroyo is a great leader – and she is looked highly upon by many nations around the world including the US.

The most dissapointing fact out of the incident is that the message of the TV show “Wowowie” seems to have not sink-in with the government and the church – and that solving poverty seems to be not on top of their list. It is obvious that the country’s resource is not enough to support its population. And one would think that an effective government and church would educate the public about family planning, as well as maintaining what Filipinos are known for – our good morals, discipline and warmth towards others.

I am not a fan of the show “Wowowie”. But this recent event made me realize that ABS-CBN’s intent in producing this type of show is simply to help others and to entertain. Simply to help those whom are victims of poverty.

I hope the incident instills a better lesson in life. And that people would take a moment and pay respect towards each other, their government and church leaders. And that corruption and bad politics will not get any nation anywhere.

To ABS-CBN, thank you for offering hope to those whom are in need. Thank you for establishing your other outstanding non-profit organizations, including Bantay-Bata and Bantay Kalikasan. Please continue your good work. Please continue to serve as an avenue to promote peace, promote a well-balanced news programming. Please continue to share your resources and expertise to assist in alleviating the poverty in the Philippines.

Peace!

CONT… with REAL dreams alam nyo po yung dapat sanang makitang pag-asa ng mga kababayan nating mahihirap sa ating govt. ay sa mga game shows pa nakita kung meron sanang concrete proofs ang pamahalaan sa poverty alleviation d na sana sila mag aatubling isapalaran sa game shows ang kanilang ikabubuhay…

Now I know why lowly civil servants and policemen are disgruntled. When there’s a problem they are easy targets for media bashing.

Let us put all things in perspective. ABS CBN’s spin doctors have effectively muddled the issue and their cohorts in media and grandstanding politicians (hello Mr. Jaworski etal) have scrambled to echo their sentiment. First and foremost is to determine who is PRIMARILY responsible for the success or failure of ANY event . The truly good organizer will pat themselves on the back for a successful outcome. If , unfortunately, there were hitches in the program, they will not suddenly start blaming the “unruly” guests, security detail, the venue owners, caterers, God, etc etc etc for the blunder. Why is this so? Because being professionals, they know that they were the ones who planned the whole thing: they chose whom to invite and how many, they chose the venue, they chose how much security they would provide the guests, and other important details.

Having said this I find it perplexing why this network is trying to blame everyone and everything else (from poverty, the “unruly crowd”, LGU, PNP etc etc) while at the same time trying to downplay their role in the fiasco. Who stands to profit THE MOST from this extravaganza anyway?

Now the executives are whining that the police and aid from the LGU were inadequate. Er, excuse me but as the point man for the whole thing, wasn’t it the organizer’s responsibility to MAKE SURE THAT EVERTYHING IS IN PLACE AND THAT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE THERE , ARE THERE? It’s not enough to just say “eh we wrote them a letter but they didn’t come eh so it’s their fault.” Duh. Command responsibility is probably not in their vocabulary.

Mr. Lopez is being patted on the back for “bravely assuming responsibility for the tragedy” with people not noticing the craftily inserted caveat “if the courts so decide.” Now how sneaky is that? That is why his minions are doing their darndest to pin the blame on the secondary cast- ordinary citizens/LGU/ policemen .

They overreact to the statements of Mr. Corpus when in fact it was very tame considering 74 people are dead. How many times have people heard their radio broadcasters label people as “stupid” “tanga” “bobo” “nangbababoy ng tao” . How many lives and reputations were ruined as a result and the network never raised a howl of protest or showed a tinge of “righteous” indignation. They are trying to portray themselves as victims when in fact they are the perpetrators.

To ABS CBN: Itigil na ang mga press release! You’re probably doing it to limit liability in a legal case (why are you so worried when your topnotch lawyers can easily squash any class action suit ) but it actually does more damage to the reputation of your company than you might think. Tina Monzon Palma is right. Just do your job of helping the victims and stop the finger pointing.

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