Treat them like human beings

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Managing Editor ANTONIETA B. LOPEZ Business Editor ODETTE MONTELIBANO Desk Editor MARY ANN BARCELONA Advertising Coordinator RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete

ANDRES R. LEONARDIA Managing Director

The Undersecretary of the Department of Interior and Local Governments, to whom the statement "They were treated like animals" was attributed, has clarified that he was not referring to anybody or any entity in particular when he said it. He has even apologized to those he might have offended or outraged by his words.

Understandably, the management of the ABS-CBN, the television company behind the program and the celebration at the ULTRA in Pasig that had turned into such a horrifying tragedy, felt alluded to by the unfortunate comment. The words were, after all, so harsh, so descriptive, that the entire quote was carried in the media, even by the international press.

However, with the explanation of Undersecretary Marius Corpus, who, admittedly has a flair for words, particularly when he had said as well, that offering so few tickets and chances to the grasping crowds was like throwing a small piece of meat to a pack of hungry wolves, it is about time that all concerned should behave like compassionate human beings who will put the welfare of the victims, especially those who survived but were hurt in the stampede.

This they can do by providing them with the proper medication and treatment, proper food and nutrition while they are recovering, and, at the same time, also providing them with appropriate psychological counseling so they can recover from the trauma of their experience. This is an aspect of dealing with victims and survivors of calamities and accidents that is most often neglected or disregarded, but which can mean a big difference in the emotional recovery of those involved.

Providing such extra care to the survivors and the families of the fatalities will show that the unfortunate ones are, indeed, being treated like human beings. Only beasts in the wilds crawl to a corner and lick their wounds themselves because they do not expect that from their kind.*