Another accidental discharge: CCPO director urges retraining for guards

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu City Police Director is recommending that the two security guards, who figured in accidental firing incidents, undergo retraining with the Regional Security Agencies and Guards Supervision Unit (RSAGSU) of the Philippine National Police.

This as another guard injured three people yesterday morning when he accidentally fired a shotgun in barangay Mabolo.

CCPO Director, Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador said that one factor that could have led to the incidents is the lack of training of the security guards.

The RSAGSU-7 is headed by Supt. Rex Derilo.

Around 7:30 a.m. yesterday, 21-year-old Clyde Villarda was about to start his duty as a security guard of Granduke Lending Corporation along J. Luna Avenue when his 12-gauge shotgun accidentally went off and hit three employees of the lending firm.

The round hit the concrete floor and the pellets hit the victims on their knees.

Injured were Jeanylyn Abejar, 25, a native of Misamis Oriental and stay-in office clerk of the firm; Dominique Maratas, 25, of barangay Talamban and the firm’s collector; and Rommel Bangongon, 31, also a collector and resident of barangay Pajac, Lapu-Lapu City.

All three were taken to Perpetual Succour Hospital for medical treatment.

Villarda alleged that he took the service firearm from Abejar’s possession. It is the clerk, who keeps the weapon in the office premises when the guard goes off duty.

When the gun was handed to him, the guard accidentally squeezed the trigger while receiving the weapon resulting to the accident.

He alleged that the firm’s driver, whose name he does not know, might have cocked the gun the previous evening.

Villarda said that he hands the weapon to the driver, who in turn gives it to Abejar.

The driver has denied cocking the gun.

Villarda, a native of barangay Candugay, Barili town, has been with the Extreme Force Security Service Agency for one year already and has been assigned at the lending firm, usually manning the 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. shift.

He was submitted to a paraffin test yesterday and is now temporarily detained at the CCPO stockade.

A charge of reckless imprudence resulting to physical injuries was filed against the suspect.

Comendador said that though it is not conclusive, there are indications that Villarda and the mall security guard, who also accidentally discharged his gun the other day, need to be retrained.

The Philippine Association of Detective and Protective Agency Operators (PADPAO), Comendador said, may help in supervising the training in accordance with the policies set by law.

“With these series of incidents, kinahanglan jud (the training) to prevent the commission of further incidents,” Comendador said.

He advised the security guards about the proper handling of weapons at all times.

“Treat your weapon as always loaded,” Comendador said.

Around noon the other day, less than 24 hours before this incident happened, a security guard wounded three persons when he accidentally fired his service firearm outside Elizabeth Mall along Sanciangko St., barangay Pahina Central, Cebu City. – Niña G. Sumacot/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)