PNP says security agency of mall hostage-taker has no liability ‘at first glance’

Hostage-taker Alchie Paray. INQUIRER.NET PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — The security agency that employed a former security guard who took several people hostage in a mall in Greenhills, San Juan City on Monday,  has no liability over the incident “at first glance,” an official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Tuesday.

SASCOR Armor Security Corp., which is a licensed security agency, was the employer of Alchie Paray who was also a licensed security guard at the time he took hostage about 50 persons hostage inside the V-Mall on Monday, PNP Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA) Director Brig. Gen. Michael John Dubria explained.

Dubria, however, added that he still ordered a probe on the security agency.

“I think for the administrative matter, at first glance, wala silang liability (they do not have a liability),” Dubria told reporters in a press conference in Camp Crame.

“But that did not prevent me from ordering the inspection for all the posts of the private security agency,” he added.

Dubria said his unit has already sent out investigating teams to the various areas where the security guards of SASCOR Armor Security Corp. are posted. Probers were also sent to the V-Mall in Greenhills.

PNP-SOSIA will be looking into the records of the security agency as well as the names of the security guards and on their inventory of firearms, uniforms, among others.

On Monday, Paray took hostage about 50 persons and held them on the second floor of the mall. He also shot one of his superiors,  Ronald Velita the mall’s head of security.

Paray released the hostages hours after negotiating with the police and local authorities.

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READ: Greenhills mall hostages released

Edited by MUF