ULTRA Stampede

FAMILIES of victims of the Ultra tragedy yesterday went to the National Bureau of Investigation to complain against television network ABS-CBN’s “71 Dreams Foundation,” which they claimed had failed to fulfill its promises to them.

The “71 Dreams Foundation” was formed by the TV station which produces the daily game show, “Wowowee,” to provide long-term assistance to families orphaned by the tragedy last February.

“Wowowee’s” first anniversary celebration was marred by a stampede that killed 71 people and injured more than a hundred others.

The stampede occurred as the people were lining up to be admitted into the Philsports Arena (formerly Ultra) in Pasig City, where the anniversary program would be held. There is no admission fee for the show, and those who get in would have a chance to win thousands of pesos in a raffle.

Among the forms of assistance that the “71 Dreams Foundation” reportedly promised the families were educational assistance, employment, rice allowance, housing, medical assistance and livelihood, said Marc Magan, 37, a resident of Cavite.

Magan was among the 16 complainants who went to the NBI yesterday following a rally in front of the Supreme Court.

Magan, whose 58-year-old mother Trinidad was among those killed during the stampede, said the foundation did not make good on any of its promises.

“They said they would provide us with livelihood support but up to now, we haven’t received any,” he told Inquirer in Filipino. “They also promised my brother a job but nothing came out of it.”

“We were initially asked what we wanted (as livelihood assistance), but when some of us asked for a tricycle or a sari-sari store, the foundation claimed that it could not afford to grant any of those,” another complainant claimed.

NBI National Capital Region chief Ruel Lasala said they could not do anything about the complainants’ claims as a case had already been filed against the TV network.

Lasala added that the livelihood support reportedly promised to the complainants was only voluntary on the part of the foundation.

In March 2006, the NBI filed charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and multiple physical injuries charges against top executives of ABS-CBN.