MANILA, Philippines—A security guard who was captured on video hurling a puppy from a footbridge in Quezon City has been fired.
Jojo Malecdem, a security guard stationed at SM North Edsa, on Tuesday seized the puppy from a group of children in a bid to shoo them away, said eyewitness Janine Santos.
But onlookers were shocked when they saw the guard hurling the puppy, named Browny.
Browny was rushed to a nearby veterinary clinic, but it succumbed to its injuries.
Santos provided a chilling account of the incident on Facebook and pleaded for justice for the puppy, drawing attention to the callous disregard shown by the security guard for the animal’s life.
SM bans security guard Jojo Malecdem for flinging a puppy to death. PHOTO: Janine Santos
In a statement, SM said it deeply sympathized with the youngsters who were the owners of the puppy.
“With extreme sadness, we sympathize with the group of youngsters regarding the incident that happened outside our mall today,” the statement from SM City North Edsa read.
“The security guard has been dismissed and is no longer allowed to service any of our malls nationwide,” it added.
The mall management also said they have coordinated with the guard’s security agency to launch an investigation into the incident.
SM City North Edsa statement
RJC Corporate Security Services Inc., the agency employing Malecdem, has stated they are conducting a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
“We sincerely regret the incident that happened at a mall in Quezon City today involving a group of children and their pet. We are thoroughly investigating this incident together with the public authorities and the parties involved,” it said in a separate statement.
Malecdem was subsequently terminated.
RJC Corporate Security Services Inc. statement
The management of SM likewise emphasized that the retail conglomerate is a pet-friendly establishment and condemns violence against animals.
“As a pet-friendly establishment, we strongly condemn any acts that endanger or harm the lives of animals,” SM City North Edsa said.
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