Action star and Sen.-elect Lito Lapid will study the possibility of creating a law that would ensure safety in film and television productions to prevent the repeat of veteran actor Eddie Garcia’s fatal accident.
Lapid made the statement today after veteran actress and Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Rector described Garcia’s accident as a “eye-opener” that called for occupational safety regulations in the showbiz industry.
“Pag-aaralan namin ‘yan kung ano pa, kakausapin natin, magkakaroon ng suggestion mga stuntman, mga direktor. Kamukha ko, ako fight director din ako, stuntman din ako,’ yan kailangan meron talagang safety, kaya lang aksidente lang talaga ‘yong nangyari sa kanya (We will study what else could be done, we will talk to and ask for suggestions from stuntmen and directors. Like me, I am also a fight director, it really needs safety, but what happened to him was really an accident),” Lapid was quoted in an ABS-CBN report as saying.
Lapid worked with Garcia on the set of ABS-CBN’s long-running television series “FPJ’s Ang Probinsiyano.”
The 90-year-old Garcia tripped and broke his neck while taping on the set of GMA Network’s upcoming television series “Rosang Agimat” last June 8. Reports said it took time before Garcia was brought to the hospital.
Garcia went into a coma and had been on life support. He died on June 20.
“This is not the time for finger-pointing. Siguro eye-opener lang ito para malaman nila. Kasi I’ve been in show business mahigit nang 50 years, hindi naman all the time noong araw pa na merong ambulansya sa shooting o merong doktor,” Santos-Recto said at Garcia’s wake at the Heritage Park in Taguig City.
“But since it happened, siguro magiging eye-opener na ‘to na karapat-dapat lamang, lalo na kung action films, na in every shooting or taping ay required na meron tayong medics talaga,” she added.
