Labella to meet security agencies

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella wants all security guards to undergo thorough trainings, including anger management, following a series of incidents involving security guards.

Labella is set to meet with security agency owners on Thursday to discuss with them his concern.

He also invited Senior Superintendent Mariano Batiancela Jr., who is in charge of the supervision of security agencies, to the meeting. But Batiancela is not available and will only send a representative.

The vice mayor said that hiring security guards should go beyond the basics. He explained that it is not enough that an applicant passed the drugs and neuropsychiatric tests.

Labella said that medical and criminal records should be considered. He added that they should also undergo anger management training.

“They really have to scrutinize the records of the applicants if they do not have criminal records on crimes against property, crimes against persons, and any other crimes defined and penalized under the Revised Penal Code that would involve premeditation or anything that cause injury to anybody,” Labella said.

The medical history of security guards should also be looked into to find out if he has history of mental illnesses.

Labella said he wants to find out from security agency owners during the meeting if their security guards undergo regular trainings.

“The training they should undergo is the training on anger management. So that bisan gamay ra ang hinungdan, parking lang ang hinungdan unya they cannot control their emotions, they cannot hold their anger, that is we have to look into,” he said.

The vice mayor is also concerned on reports that some security guards do not have license.

Councilor David Tumulak, chairman of the City Council committee on public order and safety, said some security guards are considered “fly-by-night” because they do not have a license. Some of them even use unlicensed firearms. Tumulak explained that the license is different from the duty detail order.

At least two incidents in the past days involved security guards, including the shooting to death of lawyers Goering and Gerik Paderanga last Thursday. (FREEMAN)