Willie Revillame explains fans fell victim to fake news resulting in 'birthday gathering'

In Thursday's episode of "Wowowin," Revillame addressed the alleged birthday gathering in front of Wil Tower Wednesday night, apologising to those who traveled all the way to Quezon City after a piece of fake news about prizes being given away on his birthday spread.

"Merong gumawa ng fake news na magbibigay daw ako [dito]. Mahirap hong gawin yan ngayon kasi may batas hong sinusunod tayo," he said.

According to Revillame, he started appealing to his fans as early as Tuesday to not to go to Wil Tower, as they normally do on his birthday.

"Nung Tuesday ho ine-explain ko sa inyo, bawal hong pumunta dito kasi maraming natutulog dito sa labas ng Wil Tower, diyan ho sa audience entrance sa ABS. Pero pinapaalis na po ng mga tao mga barangay," Revillame said.

"Eh kahapon po dumagsa ho, actually ilang araw nang dumadagsa mga tao diyan. Siguro, it’s about almost 4,000 po ang dumating," he continued.

Even if he wanted to go down to meet those who visited him, the host said he was prohibited by the police to do so, to avoid chaos and the possibility of breaching protocols.

"Kasi ako naman ho ay siyempre hindi ko matitiis yan, 'di ba? Dahil nandiyan sila eh bumabati naman ng birthday mo, pero kaya lang ho, may sinusunod tayong batas," Revillame said.

"Humihingi ako ng pasensya sa inyo, [ng] pag-unawa, dahil alam niyo naman po na kailangan natin sumunod sa batas, [sa] social distancing," he added.

Revillame said he understood that his fans only wanted to greet him and meet him but given the procotols, he was prohibited.

"Alam kong gusto niyo kong mabati, gusto kong mapuntahan ko kayo sana pero dahil pinigilan po ako ng mga pulis, dahil baka may mangyari pang hindi maganda, iniwasan na po yan," he explained.

Revillame asked for the understanding of those who traveled to Wil Tower, reasoning, "kaya po ginawa tong Tutok to Win para hindi na ho kayo bumabiyahe dito, hindi po ba?" 

The TV host thanked Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and the rest of the LGU for assisting him and patrolling the area for nearly 24 hours.

"Nagpadala ng maraming ambulansya for safety, maraming pulis, I think it’s about 45 na. Sa barangay, mga chairman nila lahat, mga barangay tanod and of course pulis 'di ba?" Revillame said.

In a press conference earlier, Belmonte admitted that the Kapuso TV host had earlier reached out to them for guidance in anticipation of a gathering.

Belmonte said Revillame was worried because it's been his fans' practice to visit him outside Wil Tower for his birthday and gatherings are not allowed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Yesterday, a crowd gathered outside Wil Tower because it's the 60th birthday of Mr. Willie Revillame. Prior to yesterday's event, he called me up to tell me he was apprehensive because it is his custom that whenever it is his birthday, people will come and visit him, because he also gives assistance to the indigent members of society. He was worried," Belmonte said.

Belmonte mentioned that Revillame had coordinated with the city's Department of Public Order and Safety and the local police to ensure that the crowd will be controlled and that physical distancing will be observed during the gathering.

The mayor said she is still waiting for the report of concerned officials regarding the incident in order to verify if indeed health protocols were violated. She stressed that she wants to hear first the side of law enforcers.

"So I said, when you decide, please coordinate with us. So ang ginawa niya nakipagcoordinate po siya sa aming Department of Public Order and Safety at nakipagcoordinate na rin siya sa Quezon City Police District," Belmonte said.

"I was told today that the Quezon City Police District did send a contingent of police officers. I have to get their side of the story, wala pa po silang finu-furnish sa akin na incident report. Gusto kong malaman sa kanila kung ano ang kanilang nagawa, bakit may mga reports na hindi nagkaroon ng crowd control..." she added.

Belmonte further said her office is coordinating with Revillame's secretary so that the local government could get a list of those who attended the gathering.

She said the city government would urge attendees to be tested for COVID-19.

"As soon as we get that list, handa na po ang CESU namin upang babaan ang mga komunidad na ito at hikayatin sila na mag-patest," Belmonte said.

In the live episode of "Wowowin," Revillame turned emotional and promised his loyal fans and audiences, that when the pandemic is over, he will come up with a show for them.

"'Wag kayong magalala. Ito ang pangako ko sa inyong lahat: Once na matapos tong pandemya na to at pupuwede tayong magsamasama muli, makikiusap ako sa pamahalaan kung 'di man dito sa Quezon City,  maaring sa Manila, maaring sa Araneta, maaring sa MOA, siguro maganda open sa Luneta. Gagawa ako ng [show na] handog para sa inyo. Isang selebrasyon po, kaya ipagdasal natin na matapos na itong pinagdadaanan natin hindi lang naman sa ating bansa sa buong mundo," he said.

"Pasensya na kayo. Humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa lahat ng pumunta dito — about almost 4,000 o na tao — 'wag kayong magaalala. Kapag natapos to, may magandang regalo naman ako sa inyo." 

"Magtulungan tayo at wag na kayong gumawang fake news," he added.

Revillame turned 60 on January 27, with just one wish: for the pandemic to be over so they could go back to bringing joy to audiences like before. — LA, GMA News