By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – The mall security guard caught on video accosting a sampaguita vendor has filed a counter affidavit before the Philippine National Police (PNP) Supervisory Office on Security and Investigation Agency (SOSIA).
“Nag submit na ng counter-affidavit ang nasabing security guard kasama ang counter-affidavit ng security agency. Actually, kahapon ang nagsubmit dito ay representative ng agency (The guard and the security agency have already submitted their counter-affidavits. The representative of the agency submitted it yesterday [Thursday])” PNP Civil Security Group spokesperson Lt. Col. Eudisan Gultiano told reporters at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Friday.
She said preliminary evaluation will be done within seven days, after which a formal complaint will be filed before a summary hearing officer if there is probable cause.
The summary hearing officer will then have 30 days to resolve the case.
Gultiano said summoning the female sampaguita vendor will also help determine whether an administrative complaint is justified.
She said the vendor is expected to appear before the SOSIA next week.
“Kung hindi siya magpakita, mag-babase na ang takbo ng aming preliminary evaluation sa counter-affidavit at sa iba pang mga ebidensya na nakuha ng aming imbestigador (If she does not appear, the resolution of the preliminary evaluation will be based on the counter-affidavits and other evidence gathered by our investigators),” she said.
Depending on the outcome, Gultiano said 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 the woman, reportedly aged 22, to leave but she did not budge at first.
When she finally stood up, the guard grabbed the sampaguita garlands and appeared to kick the vendor.
The vendor retaliated by repeatedly striking the guard with her hands still holding the destroyed garlands. (PNA)
