Justice Secretary Alberto Agra affirmed the DOJ’s decision to absolve “Wowowee” host Willie Revillame from criminal liability in connection to the deaths of over 70 people during a stampede outside PhilSports Stadium (also known as ULTRA) during the show’s first anniversary.

“After a careful examination of the motion and the records of this case, we find no cogent reason to alter or modify, much less reverse our findings,” Agra said in his order.

As such, he says he sees no reason to reverse the findings of his predecessor, the former Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales.

About 30,000 people reportedly gathered outside the stadium for the show’s first anniversary on February 4, 2006. But the impending celebration turned into a dark tragedy when a stampede occurred as people were excitedly filing into the venue. 71 reportedly perished; another 400 people got injured.

By October 2006, a case of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide and serious physical injuries were filed by the DOJ against several executives of ABS-CBN, including some staffers of “Wowowee” as well as Revillame.

However, on August 22, 2007, the DOJ eventually withdrew its case against Revillame.

Then Justice Secretary Gonzales said the host could not be held liable for the incident just by extending his invitation to televiewers to watch the show. His order read: “The invitation was not, so to speak, the spark that eventually led to the explosion. More importantly, not by any stretch of the imagination can the act of Revillame, by itself, naturally and adequately lead to the stampede that killed 71 people and injured hundreds more.”

Revillame is currently still on leave from the popular noontime show, resulting from his earlier issue against DZMM’s Jobert Sucaldito. Revillame got incensed by what he said was Sucaldito’s incessant attacks on his show, saying he was going to quit his show if the network did not let Sucaldito go.

That threat went nowhere as Sucaldito still works in the radio station; Revillame, for his part, went on a self-imposed indefinite leave. He later apologized and met with ABS-CBN executives to discuss his situation. This did not result in his going back to the show for now, though.

Several celebrities have already pinched hit as temporary host for “Wowowee,” most famously, Robin Padilla. Padilla, however, refused to extend his hosting stint. In a recent report, a good number of celebrities also refused to take over the hosting reins full time, in deference to Revillame.

This list includes Manny Pacquiao (citing his friendship with Revillame), Cesar Montano and Edu Manzano (who both begged off after a gruelling experience during the last elections), Aga Muhlach (citing his busy movie and TV commercial work schedule), Senator Bong Revilla and even John Lloyd Cruz.