Ted Failon and PWEA issue official statements over storm surge controversy

Here goes the official statements of Ted Failon and PWEA (Philippine Weathermen Employees Association) over misunderstanding of the former's comment, which sent the idea that PAGASA weathermen did not seem to have fully understood the meaning of a storm surge.
Here's what PWEA has to say:

The PWEA honestly respects the opinion of Mr. Ted Failon aired early this morning 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

However, we are deeply saddened by this comment. Please allow us to inform our kababayans that our colleague suffered the onslaught of Yolanda because she was on duty at the weather station. It is the general rule in PAGASA that personnel on duty should not leave or abandon their posts at all cost if a locality is under threat from a tropical cyclone. Our lady colleague died not in the comfort of her own home but rather died while in the service of our country.

To which, the Radio dzMM anchor cleared what he said:

Ang aking sinabi, ultimo taga-PAGASA ay na-biktima ng storm surge sa kasagsagan ng Yolanda. Sa aking pananaw 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… Bagamat siyempre ating ginagalang din ang katapatan sa tungkulin ng mga taga-PAGASA na hindi inaabandona ang kanilang mga post

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. Kasi 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

So after all, those are just misunderstanding and misinterpretation. Sometimes, words spread like a plague; It's good clarifications and apologies, as needed, are there to rectify things or at least, calm things down a little bit.