Security at mall tightened after shooting

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Security was tightened at a mall here where a 13-year-old boy shot a 16-year-old friend then turned the gun on himself.

Millie Dizon, vice president for marketing and communications of SM Supermalls, said in an e-mail statement that security was tightened in all the mall’s entrances after the shooting.

The retail giant also asked police to be more visible in malls. “We also believe that security is everybody’s responsibility,” Dizon said.

Police and the parents of the boys have not filed any complaint or civil suit against the mall.

But Supt. Wilson Santos, chief of police of Mexico town, said there are “no [pieces of] concrete evidence proving their (SM’s and its security firm’s) liabilities.”

How the younger boy obtained the gun, how it was brought in and who owned the weapon are still being established, Santos said. “It is not enough that we recovered the gun,” he added.

Still distraught

The parents of the boys are still distraught and appear to have had no knowledge about their sons’ apparent relationship, said SPO3 Rey Sese, the officer in charge of the case.

Investigators reported finding a suicide note in the pocket of the younger boy suggesting a “lovers’ quarrel.”

In Manila, the head of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) called on security firms to send their guards for training to “enhance their knowledge, skills and attitude.”

Tesda head Joel Villanueva said the training of guards was key to efficient security in malls and other places where security is provided by private firms.

“Weak training requirements for guards and little oversight of security companies can be a deadly combination,” said Villanueva. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon with Tarra Quismundo in Manila