PNP-SOSIA orders Resorts World Manila security guards relieved

The Philippine National Police-Supervisory Office on Security and Investigation Agencies (PNP-SOSIA) has ordered the immediate relief of NC Lanting Security Specialist Inc. guards who were on duty during the attack at the Resorts World Manila last week, which led to the deaths of 38 people.

"[B]y virtue of the powers and functions vested by laws, rules and regulations to the PNP, exercised through the SOSIA, NC Lanting Security Specialist Agency is hereby ordered to prohibit guard duties and thereby 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-SOSIA said in its order.

The order was signed on Friday, June 9 by PNP-SICIA director Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino.

In its order, the PNP-SOSIA said it found "security lapses committed" by the security guards during the attack.

The gunman later identified by the police as alleged casino gambling addict Jessie Carlos took a cab to the Resorts World Manila. He was able to enter the posh entertainment compound with two firearms and gasoline, which he used to torch the casino area.

Carlos killed himself after the attack. Thirty-seven other people died, mostly due to suffocation.

The PNP-SOCIA said the security agency failed to observe the duty pairing system as it only had one security officer, Mary Grace Rayala, stationed at the security inspection post at the casino entrance.

"The duty pairing system was not observed since only a lady security guard (LG Mary Grace Rivera Rayala) manned the post where the culprit entered as shown on the CCTV footages from RWM and through the admission of Lanting Management and SG Edwin Parulan Ciñaco who was also a lone roving guard of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floor of the mall," the order read.

In a CCTV footage, Carlos was seen avoiding the metal detector panel manned by Rayala. The lady guard attempted to stop the gunman, but ran away after Carlos started firing.

Not trained for mall security

"As admitted by Lanting and indicated in the issued Licenses to Exercise Security Profession, the lady guard posted at the mall entrance and other guards deployed in RWM were not trained in mall security that could have, in one way or the other, prevented the worsening of the situation," PNP-SOSIA said.

The PNP-SOSIA also said in its order that Rayala was not wearing the prescribed uniform as the security agency was not authorized to allow its personnel to wear a special set of uniform, which then hindered her from carrying a firearm.

Lanting, for its part, said that it was upon the request of Resorts World Manila that their security personnel wear polo barong and not the official security guard's uniform.

The PNP-SOSIA also said found out that a security guard of Lanting gave his issued firearm to a member of the Resorts World Manila's internal security team, who engaged Carlos in a shootout.

The security agency, according to the PNP-SOSIA, does not have a proper security plan, which is needed to "ensure compliance with the prescribed security requirements of the PNP, except its deployment plan in the form of its Daily Shifting Detail Order."

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) earlier said Resorts World Manila failed to comply with its advisory to put additional security measures in place prior to the deadly attack.

The PAGCOR had also suspended the provisional licence of Resorts World Manila pending the results of its investigation.

The security agency had claimed that its personnel "acted accordingly" during the incident.

The Resorts World Manila had announced that it had already sought the services of international security experts following the attack. —Marlly Rome C. Bondoc/ALG, GMA News