ABS-CBN's Ted Failon apologizes to weathermen

MANILA, Philippines - ABS-CBN newscaster Ted Failon publicly apologized to state weather agency staff offended by his remarks over their supposed lack of knowledge on the storm surge.

"Kung saka-sakali po na hindi ho sa tamang konteksto ang pagtanggap ng iba sa mga miyembro niyo o ibang kababayan natin sa aking naging pahayag, ako ay humihingi ng paumanhin," Failon said in his morning radio news program on dZMM on Wednesday.

Read: Weathermen to Ted Failon: 'Our lady colleague died in the service of country'

He also asked pardon from the family of late PAGASA weather forecaster Salvacio Avestruz, who died while on duty during the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

"Naiintindihan ko na maraming tao rin ang sensitive sa mga issues ngayon at talagang kailangan ng pag-iingat sa ating mga binabanggit kaya ngayon pa lang akin na pong nililiwanag na ang konteksto ng aking pahayag kahapon, ay no offense lalo na sa pamilya ng namatayan," Failon added.

The broadcaster also attempted to clear misunderstandings on his observations on the authorities' failure to explain the dangers of storm surges before Yolanda slammed into land last November 8.

The storm surge spawned by the super typhoon's record winds killed thousands and flattened communities in the Visayas, particularly in Tacloban City on Leyte island and Guiuan town in Samar province.

"Nung aking tinatalakay ang isyu na ito is that ultimo ang taga-PAGASA hindi po alam kung gano kalaki ang panganib na paparating na hatid ng super typhoon na ito," Failon said.

Failon said this following a statement of the Philippine Weatherman Employees Association expressing disapproval of Failon's opinion.

“The PWEA honestly respects the opinion of Mr. Ted Failon ... that most PAGASA people are not aware of what a storm surge is. According to Mr. Failon, this is because one PAGASA personnel died as a victim of a storm surge herself," Ramon Agustin, the group's president, said.