RedHorse Muziklaban Stampede!!!

4 killed, 15 hurt in concert stampede

By JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE

The Manila Times Reporter

Four persons were killed and 15 others were injured in a rock concert stampede at the Amoranto Stadium in Quezon City Saturday.

Of the fatalities, only one was identified as Arjay de Dios, 16, of Potrero, Malabon City. He was crushed to death during the stampede at the Muziklaban concert organized by Red Horse of San Miguel Corp.

The other fatalities were all male. One, described to be between 23 and 25 years old, died while undergoing treatment at the Capitol Medical Center.

The two other fatalities—one aged between 23 and 25 years old, about 5’5" in height; and the other aged between 25 and 30 years old, stands 5’7" and fair complexioned—died on arrival at the East Avenue Medical Center.

The wounded, six of whom are female, were brought to the Capitol Medical Center, Quirino Memorial Medical Center and the East Avenue Medical Center.

Quezon City Police District investigators were facing difficulty with the probe, because the victims either refused to give their names or lacked identification cards.

The incident happened at 8:45 p.m. Saturday at the Amoranto Stadium in Barangay Roxas District.

The crowd reportedly became unruly after they were refused entry to the jam-packed stadium.

Bouncers and security personnel were unable to control the crowd who started pushing their way through the gates. This prompted firefighting units from the Bureau of Fire Protection to train their water hoses on the crowd.

The father of one of the fatalities, 44-year-old engineer Al de Dios, said he was mulling to file charges against the organizers of the concert as well as the fire bureau for the death of his teenage son.

He pointed out that his son, being a minor, should not have been allowed in the concert which offered free beer.

Mayor Feliciano Belmonte of Quezon City told The Manila Times that he had ordered an investigation of the incident.

"This is a new phenomenon for Quezon City and it is very unfortunate," Belmonte said, adding that it was too soon to speculate on who should be held liable for the incident.

He said the investigators must look into the possible culpability of the organizers.

"For example, did they sell too many tickets more than the actual capacity of the venue, or did they sell tickets to minors?" he asked.

Belmonte said probers should look into whether the firemen’s water bombardment of the crowd caused the stampede.