A year after Ultra stampede, victims still seek justice

A year after the tragedy, the families of at least 71 persons who died in a noontime show stampede at the Ultra Sports Complex in Pasig City attended a mass and lighted candles to press on with their quest for justice. As early as 6:30 a.m., families trooped to the PhilSports arena in Pasig City, where the incident occurred last year, to mark the tragedy. “Yan ang gusto nila malaman, sino ang responsable sa safety and security nila a year ago. Di ito madadaanan sa material na bagay, itong nandito ay hindi kuntento (They want to find out who is responsible for their safety and security a year ago. No amount of material ‘aid’ can answer that question. These families are not contented)," Dante Jimenez, head of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), said in an interview on dzXL radio. Jimenez accompanied the victims' families as they lighted 71 candles at the gate of the arena for those who died in the stampede for tickets, on the first anniversary celebration of the noontime show “Wowowee." The group later attended a mass near the gate, and offered flowers to remember the dead. Jimenez said that while ABS-CBN television, show producer, had offered compensation for the victims, many have not been appeased because their injuries needed “sustained" treatment. He added the network has already stopped offering medical assistance to the victims. “As far as compensation maraming hinanakit sila. Sinasabi nila hindi sila masyadong nabigyan ng suporta, yung medicines at papagaling. Marami rito permanently disabled, may fractures. Nakakalungkot, dapat naman sustained (They are complaining about compensation. They said they were not given enough support for medicines and treatment. Many of those who survived the stampede are permanently disabled and have fractures. This is sad)," he said. (GMANews.TV is owned by GMA Network, the leading broadcast network in the country that is a competitor of ABS-CBN.) - GMANews.TV