Mandaluyong City: The Philippine National Police (PNP) will also summon the female sampaguita vendor who was accosted by a mall security guard in Mandaluyong City as part of the preliminary probe. The vendor would be invited to appear before the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA), PNP Civil Security Group spokesperson Lt. Col. Eudisan Gultiano told reporters at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Tuesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, her side of the story will help determine whether there is probable cause to file an administrative complaint against the security guard, who also went to the SOSIA on Monday with his agency supervisor and a lawyer. "Her (vendor) might affect our resolution of the case. It's because we would base our probe on the account of the security guard," Gultiano said.
If the vendor does not appear, Gultiano said the preliminary investigation will still proceed based on the security guard's account, seven days after the submission of his affidavit. He said the security guard and his agency are expected to submit their counter-affidavits by Thursday.
'The security guard is willing to cooperate to clear his side but again, we are still on the preliminary evaluation phase. We will base on the counter-affidavit or other pieces of evidence that we would gather," Gultiano said. Gultiano added that the security guard could be liable for violating Republic Act 11917 or the Private Security Services Industry Act. Sanctions may include the suspension of the security guard's license and a fine for the security agency.
The video that recently circulated on social media showed the school uniform-clad vendor sitting outside the stairs by the mall's entrance. The guard apparently asked her to leave but the woman, reportedly aged 22, did not budge at first. When she finally stood up, the guard grabbed the sampaguita garlands and appeared to kick the vendor but did not hit her. The vendor retaliated by repeatedly striking the guard with her hands still holding the destroyed garlands. Mall management said the guard was dismissed.
