Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 10) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) unit supervising private security groups ordered the relief of security guards on duty at Resorts World Manila when the deadly attack happened on June 2.
“The NC Lanting Security Specialist Agency is hereby ordered to prohibit guard duties and hereby relieve its posted security guards at the entrances and exits of Maxims Hotel and Newport Mall of Resorts World Manila until further notice,” the PNP-Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (PNP-SIOSA) said in an order dated June 9.
Thirty-eight people were left dead in the incident, including gunman Jessie Carlos who killed himself.
RELATED: Police identify Resorts World Manila gunman as Jessie Carlos
PNP-SOSIA head, C/Supt. Jose Mario Espino says the relief order, effective immediately, covers 68 to 70 guards of NC Lanting, RWM’s security provider.
Among the lapses of Lanting were :
duty pairing system was not observed
guards deployed were not trained in mall security
the uniform worn by the lady guard on-duty was not authorized (hence, prohibited from carrying a firearm)
a security guard lent his firearm to one of RWM’s internal security, in violation of regulations
the absence of a security plan, with prescribed requirements of the PNP
Espino said a resolution will be released next week detailing possible sanctions against NC Lanting.
“For the security agencies, we will find out administrative sanctions nila – payment of fines or will it lead to the cancellation of their LTO (license to operate). We will come up with a resolution. We are just awaiting for all of their affidavits,” he said.
For sanctions to be imposed on the hotel casino management, Espino says this would fall under either the Philippine Gaming Corporation or Philippine Economic Zone Authority. Intially, NC Lanting claimed some of its security procedures were implemented based on hotel management orders, like the wearing of special uniforms and the deployment of a single guard at entry and exit points.
RELATED: PAGCOR suspends license of Resorts World Manila
As seen in the security camera video, the lady guard who first encountered gunman Jessie Carlos, was wearing a special set of uniform-a barong, hence she’s prohibited from carrying a firearm. Espino says the PNP-SIOSA requires all security guards to wear uniforms, especially in areas of public convergence. He adds, a special set of uniform is only authorized, if approved by the PNP-SIOSA, for example in Boracay Island, where guards are allowed to wear a shirt and a pair of shorts; or inside hotels where guards can wear barong.
The PNP-SIOSA also requires a duty pairing system for guards, but this was not observed, as noted in the report. Security guard Mary Grace Rivera Rayala was alone in her post when the gunman entered, as seen in the security camera video, Roving guard Edwin Parulan Ciriaco, was also the only one assigned on the second, third and fourth levels of the mall.
“Definitely the Resorts World would really face a lawsuit, kasi sila na nga. So if they followed security requirements namin sa PNP, one way or another, we could prevent this,” Espino said.
