TV host, executives face charges over Philippine stampede

PHILIPPINE: Philippine government investigators said Wednesday they would file criminal charges against the host and producers of a popular television game show over a stampede at a taping that claimed 71 lives.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) laid the blame for the February 4 disaster at a government-run stadium on 17 people including ABS-CBN network executive vice president Charo Santos, assistant vice president for security Cipriano Luspo, and Wilfredo Revillame, host of the “Wowowee” noontime show.

The group of 17, which also includes officials of private security agencies employed for crowd control, will be charged with “reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide and multiple injuries,” said the NBI’s Roel Lasala. The criminal negligence charge is punishable by up to six years in prison.

Thousands of fans hoping to win prizes including one million pesos (19,585 dollars) rushed one of the stadium gates at dawn after it became apparent that not everyone would get tickets to the show, Lasala told a news conference.

Security guards then shut the gate, and those at the front, most of them elderly women from poor communities, were crushed to death. More than 200 other people were injured in the stampede.

There was no immediate reaction about the charges from the network, which earlier rejected allegations that it did not provide adequate security at the 17,000-seat venue for the show’s first anniversary episode.

Manila, Wednesday AFP