Alleba Politics

We know that the “Ultra Stampede Tragedy” which killed 79 people and injured hundreds was most likely an unfortunate event. We can’t really blame anybody. In my opinion, it caused by a series of miscalculations, wrong assumptions, and desperation.

But what happened after is nothing less than exploitation. Yes, the efforts of ABS-CBN to help and assist the victims and their families are laudable. However, the way they handled to reporting of the tragedy was insensitive.

Is it necessary to shoot at the grieving relatives’ faces and show the world how much they are mourning? Is it necessary to broadcast the grief counseling sessions? Is it necessary that the footage of bodies laid out be shown over and over again?

I know it is big news, but it’s too much already. It might not be their intention, but it seems like ABS-CBN is using the incident to rake in the ratings and sympathy. The network should seriously re-consider their coverage of the tragedy and its victims.

Fate and circumstance might have caused hundreds of people to become victims, but it’s the insensitive and callous reporting that is make them victims twice over.

Here’s a little something to smile about: the House of Representatives has approved House Bill 5013 (HB 5013). HB 5013 is a special budgetary bill to fund the increase in salaries of all government employees. The increase is pegged at PhP 1,000. HB 5013 appropriates PhP 13.1 billion to fund this salary increase. About 1.1 million government employees including employees of local government units and government-owned companies.

Although this is laudable, PhP 1,000 is actually just a fraction of the requested PhP 3,000 across-the-board wage increase for government employees.