Blue guard fears losing work for losing firearm

CEBU, Philippines - Could a security guard lose his job for, say, sleeping on the job?

Baldwin Bitor, 35, married, of barangay Saac II, Lapu-Lapu City could lose his job not only because he dozed off but because a child, mentally ill at that allegedly, took his service firearm while he was dead to the world Sunday inside the Rockmarter Yard in barangay Alang-alang, Mandaue City.

Bitor, who works for Pyramid Security Agency told the Investigation and Detective Management Bureau (IDMB) the following day about his missing gun, which he had left hanging from a post in the guardhouse before falling asleep.

He said it jolted him to find his 12 gauge shotgun was missing when he woke up at dawn. Bitor's 10-hour shift starts from 7 p.m. and ends at 7 a.m. the following day.

At around 7 a.m. yesterday, he again sought the help of the IDMB after getting a tip from a certain Jestoni who had claimed seeing a certain "Botchoy," carrying a shotgun and heading towards a grassy area.

A little sleuthing did the trick. The police found Bitor's shotgun covered with banana leaves. (THE FREEMAN)