Greenhills hostage-taker a dismissed security guard, says Zamora

The man who shot a security guard and took a number of individuals hostage at a mall in san Juan City was a former watchman dismissed from the job, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said on Monday afternoon.

Zamora said the wounded security guard was already in stable condition. The hostages, he added, were also safe.

“Safe naman sila. Mayroon tayong konting communication pero ‘yun lang puwede ko sabihin,” Zamora said.

Zamora said the hostage-taker was demanding to talk to other security guards and members of the media.

“Masama ang kaniyang loob sapagkat siya’y tinanggal bilang guwardiya," Zamora said.

"Una, hinihikayat niya ‘yung ibang guwardiya na sumama sa kaniya ngunit walang sumama,” he added.

Greenhills Center Management, in a statement, confirmed that a former security guard has taken hostage of some of its employees.

It said a security guard was injured and has been brought to the hospital.

"Our priority right now is to ensure the safety of the employees, and of the public," it added.

Zamora said he was not yet privy to the details why the former security guard was removed from his position.

He said the matter was now being handled by a negotiator.

Zamora refused to provide more details about the incident. —NB, GMA News