TRAGEDY SHOWS HOW DESPERATE PEOPLE ARE
DURING BAD TIMES -- PIMENTEL

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Nene Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said the tragedy that marred the television show Wowowee reflects the desperation of the great masses of Filipinos to reap instant fortune and escape from grinding poverty.

The loss of 79 lives and the injuries sustained by scores of others clearly belie the administrations claim that the economy is in good shape. People would not risk being crushed to death if times were good, he said.

Pimentel said the unfortunate incident should also remind the government that poverty cannot be licked for as long as scarce resources intended for economic development and job-generating enterprises are dissipated through corrupt practices, and mismanagement.