Willie Revillame admits giving money during campaign to help injured supporters

Willie Revillame admitted that there were instances when he had to give money to his supporters while campaigning for a public seat, following past incidents in which audience members of his TV shows were seriously injured. 

Revillame made the revelation during the recent media conference for his new game show “Wilyonaryo,” after being asked about clips circulating online in which he appears angry with his production team for lapses on set. 

The TV host noted that his strictness stems from past incidents wherein audience members were injured – and in some cases died – during his shows and public appearances. 

He recalled the deadly “Wowowin” stampede incident during the show’s first anniversary, saying the experience left a lasting impact on him. 

“During the time na mag-one year ‘yung Wowowin, ako lahat ang humarap sa mga namatay na pamilya sa stampede. Walong patay, gabi-gabi pinupuntahan ko (During Wowowin’s first anniversary, I personally faced the families of those who died in the stampede. Eight people died, and I visited them night after night),” he recalled.

“Dapat iniingatan mo na ang programa niyo, kasi ayoko na may tao pang magbubuwis ng buhay (You need to take care of the program because I don’t want anyone else to lose their life),” he added. 

Revillame cited several medical emergencies that occurred during his programs on TV5 as he admitted that he gave money during that time to help injured individuals, even if it was prohibited during the campaign.

“Marami pa kaming incident sa TV5. Inaatake sa puso, sa labas pa lang. Lahat ‘yon pinuntahan ko sa hospital. Lahat ‘yon hindi namin pinabayaan (We had many incidents at TV5. People had heart attacks even outside the venue… I went to all of them in the hospital. We did not abandon them),” he said. 

“Hindi ko na dapat ‘to banggitin, pero para malaman niyo kung bakit ako nagagalit. During the time na ako nangangampanya, nagagalit ako. Kasi tinutulak ‘yung mga matatanda. Nababaldog ‘yung ulo sa semento. Lahat ‘yung tatlong matatanda ‘yon, dinala ko sa hospital… pinatahi ko ulo, kami lahat ang sumagot. Kahit bawal magbigay ng pera, nagbigay ako. Kasi hindi mo matitiis eh. Mahihirap na tao ‘to,” he emphasized. 

(I shouldn’t be mentioning this anymore, but this is so you will understand why I get angry. During the time that I was campaigning, I get angry because the elderly were being pushed. Their heads were hitting the cement. All three elderly people were taken to the hospital… their heads were stitched, and we paid for everything. Even if giving money was prohibited, I still gave them. I couldn’t help it. These are poor people.) 

Revillame added that these actions were rarely shown in media coverages, while videos of his anger were highlighted instead. 

“Kaya very strict na ako sa ngayon sa nakikita ko. Alam mo naman ngayon, ang pinapakita ‘yung masama mong ginagawa […] Alam mo sa totoo lang, hindi ako pwede magbigay ng pera kasi tumatakbo ka. Pero binigyan ‘yun, pinakain ‘yun,” he said, referring to another incident.

(So I’m very strict now with what I see. These days, they only show the bad things […] You know, honestly, I can’t give money because I’m running for office. But I still gave him some, we fed him.)

The TV host earlier said that even if he lost the 2025 senatorial elections, he still “felt like he won” because the loss made him realize that he wasn’t meant to serve in public office after all. 

Revillame’s “Wilyonaryo” will premiere on his own website on Sunday, Jan. 25. /ra