One hurt as ex-security guard holding around 30 people hostage in Greenhills: mayor

March 2, 2020

One person was injured after a former security guard is holding around 30 persons hostage for four hours inside a mall in Greenhills on Monday morning.

In an interview with reporters, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said the  hostage-taking incident is at the 2nd floor of V-Mall in Greenhills.

Zamora said the incident transpired around 10 am. He did not disclose the name of the security guard.

“Around 10 am when a former security guard of VMall entered the administrative office of the establishment,” he said.

Zamora said around 30 employees were held hostage inside the office.

“He expressed disappointment after he was removed from his job and he is encouraging other security guards to join him but no one came,” Zamora said.

“He then decided to hostage (the employees) but we cannot determine for now how many are held captive inside,” he added.

Zamora said the former security guard went AWOL (absent without leave). ''He is already AWOL for a few weeks maybe he wants something about his job and we will look into it,'' the mayor said.

Zamora said an employee was injured after the suspect fired a shot.

“According to him he has grenades but since we cannot go inside we cannot confirm if it's true,” he said.

He added the wounded employee is in stable condition.

In a statement, the Greenhills Shopping Center said it was a security guard who got injured.

Zamora said the former security guard is demanding to have a video call with  other security guards and have time to talk to the media.

“A chief negotiator is already inside (the venue of the hostage scene),” he added.

Zamora said they want to end this incident peacefully.

“We have to check how he was able to bring a firearm inside,” he said. Ella Dionisio/DMS