- GMA Network has completed its investigation into the Eddie Garcia accident
- Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that GMA network may be penalized over the Eddie Garcia accident
- Garcia sustained a neck fracture after he reportedly tripped and fell while shooting a television series in Tondo, Manila
GMA Network has completed its internal investigation into the June 8 accident involving Eddie Garcia, the network said on Tuesday (July 2) afternoon. According to the very short official statement, Eddie Garcia’s camp requested that the network give them a copy of the results first before releasing it to the public.
The statement reads in full below:
“GMA Network has completed its internal investigation on the accident involving the late Mr. Eddie Garcia.”
“The family wishes to be given a copy before we share the report with the public.”
“Thank you.”
On June 8, the 90-year-old actor got into an accident as he was shooting for an upcoming show of GMA Network titled Rosang Agimat. This was supposed to be the veteran actor’s comeback project to GMA after three years of doing FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano on ABS-CBN.
In an early statement attributed to his family, it was reported that Garcia “suffered from a severe heart attack” while taping for the show. But hours before the announcement, pictures circulated on social media showing a seemingly unconscious Garcia being carried by several men. A video also went viral showing Garcia at the taping of GMA Network’s Rosang Agimat before the veteran actor tripped and fell and later slipped into a coma at the Mary Johnston Hospital in Tondo, Manila.
Dr. Enrique Lagman, the uncle of Garcia’s longtime partner Lillibeth Romero, said that test results showed no heart attack or stroke.
A day after the incident, GMA Network said it was reviewing the video circulating on social media showing actor Eddie Garcia collapsing, and that it will wait for the family or the family’s doctor to issue a medical bulletin.
“The video of Mr. Eddie Garcia faltering in his steps & eventually collapsing has reached GMA. We are seriously reviewing the said video as well as other videos of the same scene which our cameras also took, before we make any conclusions on what really transpired.
“We will wait for the family or their doctor to issue a formal update on his condition.
“Meanwhile, we continue to pray for his quick recovery.”
On June 11, the Kapuso Network released an official statement that they’re embarking on an internal investigation.
Garcia passed away on June 20 at the age of 90 after nearly two weeks of being in a comatose state. He was cremated last on June 21 and the public viewing of his urn ended on June 23.
