PNP orders relief of Resorts World Manila security guards

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - Two persons died while 14 others were injured when a passenger mini-bus crashed onto an acacia tree along the Roman Superhighway, in Barangay Loan, Abucay, Bataan, Saturday.

Police identified the fatalities as Roberto Cabantog, 42, conductor and a resident of Orani town and Susan Sevilla, 50, a resident of Barangay Tortugas, Balanga City.

The mini-bus was enroute to Balanga City from the City of San Fernando when the accident happened.

Police said minibus driver identified as Rommel Sayson claimed that he avoided a motorcycle in front of him by swerving to the right but in the process accidentally bumped a narra tree by the roadside.

Cabantog and Sevilla were taken to Balanga General Hospital but died while being treated, police said.

Rushed to the same hospital were 12 passengers and the mini-bus driver while two other passengers were treated at the ICMC Hospital, also in Balanga City.

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered the relief of Resorts World Manila security guards following alleged lapses during the June 2 attack that killed 38 people, including the gunman.

The order dated June 9 was signed by Chief Superintendent Jose Mario Espino, chief of the PNP Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (PNP-Sosia).

Covered by the order are security guards posted at the entrance and exits of Maxims Hotel and Newport Mall of the Resorts World Manila.

During investigation, the PNP-Sosia found security lapses committed by security guards of NC Lanting Security Specialist Agency, the agency tapped to secure the Resorts World Manila complex in Parañaque City.

The PNP said that the duty pairing system "was not observed" noting that only one female security guard manned the entrance where gunman Jesse Carlos, a dismissed government employee, entered as shown in CCTV footage.

It also found that Mary Grace Rayala, the security guard posted at the mall entrance and other guards deployed in the luxury mall-casino were not trained in mall security "that could have prevented the worsening of the situation."

It also noted that the uniform worn by Rayala was not prescribed, as the PNP-Sosia did not issue any authority for the guards of Lanting to wear special uniform, hence they are prohibited from carrying firearms.

The PNP also found out that one of the guards of Lanting, during the attack, lend his issued firearm to a member of the internal security of the casino-hotel who engaged the suspect in a shootout.

It was also found out that Resorts World Manila has no security plan, one of the prescribed security requirements of the PNP.

Thirty-seven employees and guests were killed after the gunman set on fire gambling tables before he set himself on fire in a hotel room.

Separate investigation is being conducted in the House of Representatives to look into the failure of the security personnel of the Resorts World to prevent the lone assailant from entering the mall. (SunStar Philippines)

Rescue workers used chain block and power saw to remove the body of the conductor and some injured passengers who were pinned between seats.(Ric Sapnu)