Reuters AlertNet Lite - Manila prosecutors clear host over TV show stampede

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Manila prosecutors clear host over TV show stampede

24 Aug 2007 11:36:11 GMT
Source: Reuters

MANILA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Philippine prosecutors cleared the host of a popular daytime television show of any criminal liability over the death of 71 people during a stampede to get onto the programme last year, the justice secretary said.

Raul Gonzalez said on Friday that Willie Revillame, host of "Wowowee", should not be blamed for causing the stampede outside a sports arena where the show was celebrating its first anniversary in February 2006.

He said Revillame, a household name in the Philippines, only invited people to attend.

"The invitation was not, so to speak, the spark that eventually led to the explosion," Gonzalez said.

Tens of thousands of poor people attempted to squeeze their way into the 12,000-seat stadium because Wowowee was giving away one million pesos ($21,400) in cash prizes, cars and houses to mark its anniversary.

More than 70 people, most of them elderly women, were crushed during the stampede as thousands rushed to the stadium's gate hours before the show began.

The justice department said state prosecutors were still investigating four executives of the country's largest broadcast network, ABS-CBN <ABS.PS>, which airs the show.

The prosecutors have 10 days to either dismiss or submit cases against them to a local court.

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Last updated:Fri Aug 24 11:36:26 2007