Will the network say sorry?
“The people of Pangasinan are demanding a public apology from ABS-CBN, the television network that reported about the spread of a supposed ‘mysterious disease’ caused by a “flesh-eating” bacteria, which resulted in panic and public hysteria,” reports the Philippine News Agency on InterAsyon.com.
“I think that it is good if ABS-CBN will issue a public apology. In order to really put the matter to rest, they (ABS-CBN) must admit that they made a mistake in projecting the erroneous report out of proportion. It’s very irresponsible,” said provincial administrator Rafael Howard Baraan.
READ: EEEP: Report on “flesh-eating disease” in Pangasinan not true
Indeed, provincial tourism officer Malu Elduayan revealed that at the height of the hysteria over the sensationalized report, there were some cancellations of booking in some establishments in Alaminos City.
Meanwhile, Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr. said the provincial board will formally ask the public apology from the network through a resolution.
Also, on Wednesday, Feb 26, the Facebook page, “ABS-CBN Should Apologize to the People of Pangasinan,” started gaining support from netizens.
It turned out that the two people featured in the report—one from Sta. Barbara and another from Villasis—were afflicted with leprosy and psoriasis, repectively. Both diseases are non-contagious and have treatment available in the country.
