PhilSports Arena stampede

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The PhilSports Arena stampede happened at the PhilSports (formerly ULTRA) football stadium in Pasig City, Metro Manila in the Philippines on February 4, 2006. It killed 74 people and injured about 400. About 30,000 people had been gathered outside the stadium waiting to participate in the first anniversary episode of the television game show Wowowee.

1 Stampede
2 Investigation and aftermath
3 Reaction
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Stampede

[edit] Background

On February 4, 2006, Wowowee's first anniversary turned deadly as scores were crushed to death in a stampede. As a result, show organizers cancelled the show's first anniversary celebration at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City.

On February 4, 2006, about 30,000 people had gathered outside the PhilSports stadium to participate in the first anniversary episode of the popular ABS-CBN early afternoon television game show, Wowowee. It was scheduled at 1 pm. The football stadium was supposed to be the viewing area of people who were not able to enter the basketball stadium, where the program was supposed to be staged. The size of the crowd was significantly larger than the usual 5,000 who attended previous recordings (although the previous recordings were held at ABS-CBN studios). ^[1]

It was the show's first anniversary event, and there were prizes offered including jeepneys (Philippine jitney bus), taxis and a top prize of one million pesos. ^[2] According to a Philippine Daily Inquirer report, most of the victims were from the poorest parts of the Metropolitan Manila and nearby provinces, generally jobless and attracted by the show's promise of instant wealth. ^[3]

[edit] Stampede

At about 6 am, the stampede started when organizers of the show began handing out tickets to people in the crowd, many of whom had been camping outside the stadium for days to acquire them. People started trying to get ahead of the queue and became agitated. Those outside the gates started pushing, prompting security guards to close the entrance gates. ^[1] The situation grew worse and the gate eventually gave way. People at the front of the crowd stumbled, resulting in the stampede.

[edit] Casualties

The stampede killed 74 people and injured some 392 people. Most of the victims were middle-aged or elderly women.^[1] Senator and Philippine National Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon said that most of the injured were not in serious condition and many have been treated and released. ^[2]

It was earlier thought that 88 people had died, but this was due to double counting by the rescue workers.

[edit] Rescue and assistance

Eugenio Lopez III, network Chairman, during the ABS-CBN February 4, 2006 Press Conference on the Ultra Tragedy. He promised that the station will provide financial assistance to the victims of the stampede.

The Philippine National Red Cross, ABS-CBN's affiliated NGOs, and the TV network itself led the efforts in recovering the dead bodies, providing medical care for the injured, and other related assistance. The victims were also fully assisted by government authorities. As a result of the tragedy, the network has decided to cancel Wowowee and the anniversary presentation indefinitely. Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III, the company's current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, also promised to provide aid and financial assistance to the victims and their families.

Philippine Vice-President Noli de Castro (a one-time ABS-CBN broadcaster) visited the scene of the disaster.

[edit] Investigation and aftermath

Task Force Ultra, an inter-agency investigating body consisting of the National Capital Region Police Office, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Justice, was created to investigate the cause of the stampede. According to its findings, Wowowee offered only very few tickets to a very large crowd, which had been waiting for days to gain entry to the stadium.

The Task Force said the stampede was triggered by an ABS-CBN staff member announcing to the crowd gathered at the gate that only the first 300 people in line beneath the covered walkway leading to the stadium would be chosen to participate in the Pera o Bayong portion of the show. This portion, which offered from P10,000 to P50,000 in prizes ($193 to $969 at a rate of $1=P51.70), "excited" the crowd and "incited the people who were outside the official queue to push their way into the already jampacked queue, hoping that they could squeeze in among the first 300." To control the deluge of people wanting to get in, the network's staff closed the gate, but the rush of people, coupled with the steep incline and uneven surface of the road caused those in front of the mob to stumble and fall, culminating in the stampede that caused the majority of the deaths and injuries. ^[4]

The Task Force also reported an "obvious lack of coordination" between the organizers and relevant government agencies. It said that while ABS-CBN had sought the assistance of Pasig City’s mayor and police chief, "neither was invited to any of the organizers' production meetings."

The National Telecommunications Commission, a government agency that supervises all radio and television broadcasting stations and other telecommunications services, said ABS-CBN could lose its license to operate if it is proven that the network was "delinquent" in providing enough measures to protect those who went to the venue. The commission will compose an inquiry as to whether ABS-CBN violated a 1985 circular that requires TV networks "not to commit any act that would be detrimental to public health, public welfare or public safety." ^[5]

On October 2006, relatives of the victims announced that a class suit will be filed against ABS-CBN and its chief executive officer (CEO)[1]. “There is now probable cause (for the case),” said Dante Jimenez, the chairman of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC).

[edit] Reaction

Pope Benedict XVI expressed sadness over the incident. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano said in a telegram to Pasig district Bishop Francisco San Diego that the Pope offers his prayers for all those affected by this terrible accident. ^[6]

Eat Bulaga!, Wowowee's rival variety show shown in GMA Network, offered one-minute of prayer and silence for those victims of the stampede. ABS-CBN thanked Eat Bulaga for their prayers. ^[7]

For several weeks after the tragedy, many people debated about allowing shows with a similar premise to air, going so far as to criticize Wowowee for condoning and promoting laziness and mendicancy, even claiming the creators of such shows cared more about ratings and income than the safety of the people who came to watch the show. Supporters of the variety show dismissed these critics, claiming that "Wowowee" and variety shows of a similar nature were set up for charitable reasons.