Mall guard meant to throw puppy from overpass – witness

MANILA, Philippines — Security guard Jojo Malicdem intentionally threw a puppy from an overpass in Quezon City, according to a woman who witnessed the incident that drew outrage from the public.

The woman disputed Malicdem’s version that he just shoved the dog away after its owner put the animal in front of his face during a confrontation on Tuesday.

In her sworn statement, the witness said she saw the whole scene as she was just one meter away from Malicdem.

“Nung makarating na kami doon sa puntong halos isang metro na lamang ang layo namin mula sa guard, nakita naming may kinuha ang guard at biglang binato ng malakas paibaba mula sa footbridge (When we were a meter away from the guard, we saw the guard throw something forcefully from the footbridge),” she said.

The woman then took out her cell phone and took a photograph of the object, which turned out to be a dog, being picked up by a concerned citizen.

“Nakatihaya ang tuta at parang patay na (The puppy was lying on its back and seemed to be dead),” she said.

The woman’s statement was the evidence submitted by the Philippine Animal Welfare Society, which filed a complaint against Malicdem for violation of Republic Act 8485, or the Animal Welfare Act, before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office on Friday.

In his statement submitted by his employer, RJC Corporate Security Services Inc., to the police Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies on Friday, Malicdem made it appear he only acted in self-defense as he was concerned the dog would bite him.

The security guard said one of the five vendors whom he asked to leave the footbridge also took his identification card.

Malicdem was removed as security guard of the mall in the wake of the incident and has been on floating status.