IT firm in theater ceiling collapse slams Ayala Center Cebu for 'incompetence'

The chief executive officer of the company whose executives, employees and clients were trapped in the Ayala Center Cebu movie house last Monday said the mall's security personnel were “incompetent” in their response to the theater's ceiling collapse.

Mark Evans, CEO of Dreamscape Networks, slammed the mall's security in a statement he issued on Thursday.

"I cried out for help from the Ayala Security staff, who had run away from the scene and were too scared to enter the cinema. I called out to them to help us, but they hid in the exit laneway, and didn’t offer any help," Evans said.

He recalled that he "was shouting for them to get the cutters, so we could cut the steel and start removing portions of the ceiling, but they looked at each other dumbfounded.”

Evans said it took 25 minutes for the emergency staff to arrive at the scene and another hour to bring a cutting tool.
 

“The total incompetence from the Ayala Staff and emergency services made it clear there were no evacuation or disaster procedures in place," he added.

The Dreamscape CEO said two mall officers turned up after the theater was cleared out, but he said the two "had nothing valuable to say" as they "barely said a word" while their staff actively stopped people from taking videos and photos.

"They made no apology, and had no consideration for what had happened," Evans said.

Ayala Center Cebu said on Tuesday that their own emergency team responded to the ceiling collapse incident in Cinema 5 of the mall.

It was the mall management who said there were nine people injured in the incident.

"The mall’s Emergency Brigade Team had immediately responded to clear the area and those affected were immediately given medical care. In total, there were nine wounded persons, five of whom are now in the hospital and await medical clearance," Ayala Center Cebu said.

An Ayala Center Cebu spokesperson said they will have their own investigation on the ceiling collapse incident.

 

@YouScoop Cinema5 of Ayala Center Cebu collapsed in the middle of our company relaunching event. God forbid! pic.twitter.com/2w01i6PNA0

— JC Geek (@jcgeek4u) June 15, 2015

Video footage of GMA News shot that evening showed emergency responders outside the mall premises, waiting for the injured to be brought out because they were prevented by mall security from entering the mall to quickly provide first aid to victims.

Mr. Evans' complaints against the Ayala mall management are not limited to the emergency response to the ceiling collapse.

He said the Ayala personnel were "difficult, arrogant" during the organizing of the event they held at the theater for Crazy Domains, an Australia-based brand owned by the UAE parent holding company Dreamscape.

Crazy Domains has employed over 200 Filipinos at their 400-seat technical support center in Cebu Business Park

Evans said the Ayala personnel treated his staff with "total disrespect" and a "complete lack of customer service" while preparing the venue for the event despite "paying a lot of money for the exclusive use of the venue".

Evans also said he has rejected all offers by the mall management to pay for medical bills and food.

"This has been a very traumatic experience for my staff, and this negligence has caused undue stress and injuries to my staff, their partners, and our guests," he said.

Evans said the mall management has yet to personally contact him about the incident Monday evening. — Rie Takumi/ELR, GMA News