Willie Revillame or Kuya Wil has offered his apologies to the fans who were victimized by the “fake news” that he would be giving out cash and prizes on his 60th birthday last Wednesday, January 27.
According to a report by 24 Oras, almost 1,000 fans gathered in front of the Wil Tower in Quezon City on Wednesday in hopes of greeting the Wowowin host in person and receiving assistance from him.
The crowd, however, was later dispersed by members of the Quezon City Police District and local barangay officials after they failed to follow social distancing measures.
In Wowowin’s episode on Thursday, Kuya Wil said sorry to the fans who had fallen victim to the misinformation for not being able to meet them after police forbade him to do so to avoid any further trouble.
“Humihingi ako ng kapatawaran, ng pasensiya sa inyo, sa pag-unawa dahil alam niyo naman ho na kailangan sumunod tayo sa batas, ‘yung social distancing,” he said.
“Alam ko pong gusto niyo akong mabati, gusto ko ho kayong mapuntahan sana pero hindi po ako puwedeng bumaba. I’m sorry dahil pinigilan po ako ng mga pulis dahil baka ho may mangyari pang hindi maganda, so iniwasan na po ‘yan. Sana maintindihan n’yo po. Kaya nga ho ginawa ‘tong ‘Tutok to Win,’ para hindi na ho kayo bumabiyahe dito, hindi po ba.”
Kuwa Wil continued to explain that it’s impossible for him to give away money in person since the country is still facing the threats of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Kasi ho merong gumawa ng fake news na mamimigay daw ako. Mahirap ho gawin ‘yan kasi alam n’yong may batas na sinusunod tayo.
“Pasensiya na kayo, hindi ito ang panahon para gawin natin ‘yan ‘dahil para ho hindi tayo magkahawaan. Hindi natin masabi, baka may dumating diyan na merong sakit, magkakahawaan tayo.”
He went on to thank his fans for their time and assured them that he only thought of their safety so he was unable to meet them.
“Hindi ko ko kayo pinabayaan. ‘Wag niyo isipin kayo na pinabayaan ko kayo dahil hindi ko kayo binaba. Iningatan ko po kayong lahat. Kasi pag-baba ko diyan sigurado magkakagulo tao. Baka magkaroon na naman tayo ng problema…Salamat na lang ho sa panahon na ginugol niyo…Pasensiya na kayo, I’m so sorry.”
Kuya Wil also left a message for those spreading fake news on social media.
“Huwag na ho kayong gumagawa ng fake news. Kawawa ang ating mga kababayan. Galing ho ng iba-ibang lugar, nangutang, wala silang pamasahe.
“Paano mo ho bibigyan ho ‘yan, kapag binigyan mo ang isa, bibigyan mo yung apat na libong ‘yan. Mahirap ho eh, baka magkaproblema pa.”
He promised to give back to his fans once the pandemic is over.
“Basta pangako ko sa inyo, matapos lang itong pandemya na ‘to, ma-solve lang ang problemang ito, gagawa ako ng paraan na makagawa ng kasiyahan para sa inyo.”
Meanwhile, the Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has ordered the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) to immediately conduct contact tracing of those who trooped to the Wowowin studio from Wednesday evening to early Thursday morning.
The order came after the host’s camp provided Belmonte a list of those who converged at the Wil Tower.
Kuya Wil turned “senior citizen” last January 27. President Rodrigo Duterte and GMA network boss Felipe Gozon were among his well-wishers.
Duterte said, “Happy birthday, Willie Revillame. Sana magpatuloy lang ang pagtulong mo sa kababayan natin na hindi pinalad sa buhay. May the Almighty God bless your good heart. Happy birthday at mabuhay ka.”
The host’s eldest child Meryll Soriano, on the other hand, had a short and sweet message for her father.
