Police probe on possible security lapses in Pasay condo attack

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) will in vestigate the possible lapses committed by security personnel of Central Park Tower 2 Condominium in Pasay City after a lone suspect stabbed to death six people last Tuesday.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Oscar Albayalde said they found out that no one was assigned to monitor the closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera at the time of the incident.

"Unang-una sa CCTV area walang nagbabantay. Inamin nila 'yun. Hindi nila alam na may nangyayari na, nalaman lang nila nung may commotion na. Nung nag-iingay na sa labas doon palang sila tumawag sa PCP (Police Community Precinct) which is few steps away," Albayalde said.

The NCRPO chief said the security guards could have simply neutralized the suspect had they known that the latter was only armed with a knife.

"Kung nalaman nila agad at iisa naman ang tao at kutsilyo lang ang gamit at may baril ang security guard. Lumalabas may security detailed in both condo na magkadikit. I think if alam nila gagawin nila kaya nila (pigilan 'yung suspect) dahil iisa naman 'yung tao lalo walang baril," he added.

Alberto Garan had stabbed to death five persons Tuesday night before he was shot to death by police officers at the 22nd floor of the building.

The fatalities were identified as Emelyn Sagun, 30; Daisery Castillo, 12; Joel Palacios, 70; Ligaya Dimapilis, 36 and Letecia Ecsiagan, 50.

Police identified the injured as Belcris Elorde, 24; April Joy Sagarino, 20; Arlyn Dian Corder, 20 and Margie Morales, 26.

Albayalde said Garan attempted to shot Sagun, his girlfriend, with a .38 caliber pistol during a heated argument but the gun did not go off. Instead, he stabbed Sagun to death with a knife and dropped her body from the 16th floor of the building. Sagun's body was recovered at the basement.

"Lumalabas 'yung lalaki may bitbit na baril at unang ginamit ang 38 na paltik binaril 'yung babae (Sagun). Hindi tinamaan nag-jam siguro dahil nung narecover yung .38 caliber doon sa room kung saan sila natulog meron pang buhok na mahaba, mukhang sa babae mukhang pinukpok pa ng baril," he said.

After killing his girlfriend, Albayalde said Garan went on a stabbing spree inside the bui l di ng.

Policemen shot to death Garan on the 22nd floor.

Seven witnesses who went to Rizal Funeral Homes morgue positively identified Garan as the lone attacker.

Police recovered from the crime scene a 14inch kitchen knife, three cellular phones and the suspect's sling bag containing assorted identification cards.

(Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/ SunStar Philippines)