Manila, Philippines - ABS-CBN's late night news program Bandila has released its official statement and apology for their "mysterious flesh-eating disease" report on Pangasinan which caused unintended mass hysteria to viewers especially in the region of Pangasinan.
"Humihingi ang Bandila ng paumanhin kung ang ulat namin tungkol sa dalawang magkaibigang kaso ng sakit sa balat ay nagdulot ng takot o pangamba lalo na sa lalawigan ng Pangasinan," the statement said.
The ABS-CBN Office of the Network Ombudsman is already doing its investigation and will take appropriate actions based on its findings according to the statement.
"Iniimbestigahan na ngayon ng ABS-CBN Office of the Network Ombudsman (ONO) ang mga pangyayari sa likod ng naturang ulat. Sisiguraduhin ng ABS-CBN News na magpapatupad ito ng karampatang aksyon ayon sa resulta ng imberstigasyon ng ONO."
Gel Santos Relos, News Anchor from ABS-CBN International said: "It was not the intention of the company and of the newscast to sow fear. As a matter of fact, what they want is to do is to bring this two case studies to the attention of the people and government officials".
The Department of Health (DOH) clarified last Tuesday on Bandila that no "mysterious-disease" is spreading in Pangasinan. DOH clarified that the two cases of “flesh-eating disease” reported by the news program on Monday night was actually caused by leprosy while the second one was a case of psoriasis.
DOH Secretary Enrique Ona said “there is no reported case of 'flesh-eating' skin disease in the country yet. Absolutely no reason for the public to panic.”
"Humihingi ang Bandila ng paumanhin kung ang ulat namin tungkol sa dalawang magkaibigang kaso ng sakit sa balat ay nagdulot ng takot o pangamba lalo na sa lalawigan ng Pangasinan," the statement said.
The ABS-CBN Office of the Network Ombudsman is already doing its investigation and will take appropriate actions based on its findings according to the statement.
"Iniimbestigahan na ngayon ng ABS-CBN Office of the Network Ombudsman (ONO) ang mga pangyayari sa likod ng naturang ulat. Sisiguraduhin ng ABS-CBN News na magpapatupad ito ng karampatang aksyon ayon sa resulta ng imberstigasyon ng ONO."
Gel Santos Relos, News Anchor from ABS-CBN International said: "It was not the intention of the company and of the newscast to sow fear. As a matter of fact, what they want is to do is to bring this two case studies to the attention of the people and government officials".
The Department of Health (DOH) clarified last Tuesday on Bandila that no "mysterious-disease" is spreading in Pangasinan. DOH clarified that the two cases of “flesh-eating disease” reported by the news program on Monday night was actually caused by leprosy while the second one was a case of psoriasis.
DOH Secretary Enrique Ona said “there is no reported case of 'flesh-eating' skin disease in the country yet. Absolutely no reason for the public to panic.”
