GMA Network clarifies Ms. Lilibeth Romero’s statement during hearing on Eddie Garcia accident

GMA Network has released a statement clarifying statements made by Ms. Lilibeth Romero, the longtime partner of Eddie Garcia, during the September 23 public hearing on occupational safety and health standards surrounding his death.

The statement reads:

GMA Network acknowledges the family’s grief following the unfortunate passing of Mr. Eddie Garcia. However, the Network wishes to correct the statement made by Ms. Lilibeth Romero during the Public Hearing on Occupational Safety and Health Standards on September 23, 2019.

During the said hearing, Ms. Romero stated that GMA did not want to give her a copy of the investigation report on the accident involving Mr. Garcia and that she begged for [the investigation report] thru her lawyer.

This is not true. In fact, their family was the first to be furnished a copy of the investigation report.

When the Network finished its internal investigation, the family of Mr. Garcia, through Dr. Tony Rebosa, was immediately informed about it. The Network coordinated with Dr. Rebosa and mentioned to him that GMA wanted the family to see the report first before releasing it to anyone else. Ms. Romero, however, was out of the country at that time.

The Network subsequently agreed to delay the release to enable Ms. Romero to see the investigation result first upon her arrival.

The said report was submitted to DOLE after a copy was given to the family.

During the hearing, Romero expressed hope that Garcia's death would lead to safer working environments for showbiz workers. She also laid the blame for the death on "gross negligence and unsafe working environment and the absence of a medical team on the set."

In a previous statement, GMA Network said it had validated that three production staff who have completed the Philippine Red Cross' lecture demonstration on First Aid and Basic Life Support – CPR were present on the location site on the day of the accident. Despite the safety measures undertaken, the network said in the statement that it was determined that what happened was an unforeseeable accident.