PNP summons 2 guards wielding rifle, bat in Taguig mall

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police (PNP) has summoned the two security guards who were caught on video brandishing an M-16 rifle and a baseball bat at a mall in Taguig City last week.

Chief Supt. Noel Constantino, head of the PNP Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (Sosia), said that the guards and a representative of Jarton Security Agency had been ordered to report to him and explain their side after the footage went viral on social media.

“Today, I signed a letter-order to conduct an investigation of the incident. I have sent an investigation team there,” he added in an interview on Tuesday.

The unnamed security guards were relieved following the incident at the Market! Market! in Taguig City on Saturday night.

Two videos showed the guards as they separately brandished an M-16 rifle and a baseball bat in an area of the mall where late-night drinking was allowed. According to reports, they were trying to quell a rowdy group.

One of the guards was seen aiming his gun at people while the other was shown pointing a baseball bat at other people, banging it on a table and breaking glass in the process.

Constantino explained that aside from ordering the security agency and the security guards to appear before the Sosia, he also directed the security agency and the Taguig City police to submit their reports on the investigation they conducted of the incident.

Asked about the possible violations committed by the guards, he listed at least two grave offenses punishable by the suspension or cancelation of the licenses of the agency or the guards themselves.

These are using an unlicensed firearm and violating the code of conduct for security guards.

“They should have exercised maximum tolerance. The security guards should have gone there in groups and pacified the crowd, instead of acting alone like Rambo,” Constantino said.

He pointed out that unless unreasonably provoked, acting in self-defense or in the face of an armed threat, “the use of force is always a last result.”