VACC to help victims file a class suit vs ABS-CBN

The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) on Friday organized an assistance desk at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City to provide assistance and counseling to protect the welfare of the victims of the February 4 stampede. VACC founding chairman Dante Jimenez said their desk is open to look into reports that the victims were compelled to sign a waiver stating that they will not file a case against ABS-CBN. The VACC officials, together with the victims and their relatives and other religious groups assembled on Friday at the PhilSports Arena gate to pray for the victims who died during the stampede and to systematize the process of the help desk. A day after the stampede, it was reported that ABS-CBN rendered financial assistance ranging from P5,000 to P50,000 to the victims of the stampede as a token to ease the trauma that the victims suffered as a result of the deadly incident which claimed the lives of more than 70 person and injuring hundreds of Wowowee fans. Jimenez said his organization received reports that some of the victims were allegedly told to sign a waiver by ABS-CBN which the victim said they did not read nor understood what was written in the waiver. Jimenez said he will be confirming with ABS-CBN if indeed they obligated the victims to sign a waiver after being given financial assistance. “We would like to validate things, maraming mga pinaparating sa aming mga dokumento, but you know, things has to be validated and needs to be re-checked dahil ayaw naman natin na, you know… na ilalabas natin dahil public document yan," Jimenez said in an interview. He said the complainants must secure the following requirements such as autopsy report, death certificate, medical certificate, birth certificate and other documents confirming the relativity of the person to the victims who died in the stampede. Jimenez said they are considering filing a class suit against ABS-CBN in behalf of the victims of the stampede. He said the VACC office will be open from Monday to Friday. "It should be a class suit, that's our advice [to the victims], this is better because this is faster," Jimenez said. Earlier, VACC chairman Lauro Vizconde said in an interview in Malacañang that his group had a copy of the waiver saying that the victims would not file charges against the television network in exchange for financial aid. However, ABS-CBN’s Tina Monzon-Palma said in a press conference Friday the “waiver" was just an “acknowledgment receipt" and they have no intention to fool the victims. Several years back, the VACC was also involved in filing a class suit filed by the victims of the Ozone disco club against the owners of the establishment.-GMANEWS.TV