Driver in QC flood vilified, defended

GMA News on Thursday stressed that a video interview aired last Tuesday — meant to show the public the hazards of driving through flooded streets — had to be taken down Wednesday from GMA News Online after viewers insulted the interviewee on social media. GMA News also released the following statement: “[He] was already victimized by the flood and a lack of warnings. He shouldn’t be victimized again. Many of us could have been in his situation. We are urging the public to stop the insults. We regret that our video, which was meant to provide a lesson for all motorists, was used in any way to make fun of another person." The motorist, a law student who was interviewed last Tuesday by GMA News after driving his car into a flooded street in Quezon City, got vilified in various social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, but was also defended. [See: Ex-UP Law dean defends student who drove car in QC flood] GMA News reporter Mariz Umali interviewed motoring expert/instructor Neil Reyes who explained that it is indeed very difficult to gauge how deep the flooded portion of a road is, and that once a car is driven into deep water it would be more dangerous to stop or shift into reverse. “Gawing guide yung tire, na at least doon lang yung tubig sa gitna nung tire na yun kung kakayanin nya," advised Reyes. “Hanggat maari, hindi ka dapat hihinto sa gitna nung flood," he warned. “Kasi kapag dinadaanan mo na ang kalsadang may tubig, nahahawi yan." The interview with the motoring instructor and the official GMA News statement on the incident were aired on GMA News programs “24 Oras" and “State of the Nation". — Marlon Anthony Tonson/VS, GMA News