1 guard dead, 100 others questioned in condo dispute

MANILA, Philippines - A security guard was shot dead and 100 other guards were taken for questioning as a Makati court sheriff tried to serve a notice of temporary restraining order to officials managing a condominium in Makati City yesterday afternoon.

Jimmy Lagunsad, an employee of Spectrum security agency, was shot in the chest and died on the spot, according to Senior Superintendent Jaime Santos.

Sheriff Leonel Roxas arrived at the main entrance of the Burgundy Corporate Tower along Gil Puyat Avenue at about 4 p.m. to serve the notice to officials sitting on the condominium’s board. Santos said the condominium is the subject of an ongoing management dispute.

Police said the sheriff was accompanied by security guards from the Spectrum agency and met at the condominium’s entrance by guards of the SWAG security agency, posted by the building’s old board members.

Santos said the shooting happened after the security guards allegedly prevented the sheriff from serving the notice and a commotion ensued at past 5 p.m.

The guards of both agencies fled into the building and members of the Makati police’s Special Weapons and Tactics team were called in to clear the building.

The Makati police said the serving of the notice was not coordinated with them.

Santos said that at past 8 p.m., all of the building’s 38 floors have been cleared of guards. He said 100 guards from the two agencies were taken for questioning to the Makati police headquarters.

Santos added that several guns, mostly shotguns, were also seized by police. Lagunsad was killed with a shotgun, he added.