Hospital’s guards resist eviction; standoff lasts for four hours

POLICE confiscated several firearms of different caliber from security guards deployed at the Davao Doctor's Hospital (DDH) on Monday.

The police operation stemmed from a report that security guards attempted to switch off the electric power in the hospital after learning that the DDH management will terminate the services of their security agency and get a new one, the Seabren Security Agency.

Superintendent Joseph B. Sepulchre, chief of the Police Regional Office (PRO) Davao's Security Agencies and Guards Supervision Section (Saggs), said three shotguns and 15 9mm pistols were confiscated from an undetermined number of guards of the 8 Silver Security Agency while on duty at the DDH.

He added that around past midnight on Monday, at least 40 security guards of 8 Silver Security Agency, most of them in civilian clothes and others in uniform, prevented hospital management officials, doctors, and even clients from entering the hospital, just in time when guards of the new Seabren Security Agency will be installed in their posts.

"We did not force them to leave. All we did was to confiscate their firearms and they left the area one by one. We do not have the right to remove them. We just reacted to the situation," Sepulchre said, adding that tension had to be defused considering that these men were armed.

He added that the firearms will be returned to the 8 Silver Security Agency only after the latter has paid the required penalty for the confiscation amounting to approximately P50,000.

Chief Inspector Jay Dema-ala, deputy chief of Sagss, said the installation of new security guards was implemented at 12:15 a.m. The standoff between the two agencies and police authorities lasted for four hours.

"Kinausap namin ang mga guards para maliwanagan. Ang nagmatigas lang talaga ang SO (Security Officer) kaya nadamay na rin yung ibang guards," Dema-ala said.

Dema-ala was referring to a certain Joseph Ramirez, security officer of the 8 Silver Security Agency.

Sepulchre said the DDH management is preparing the charges against Ramirez, who allegedly ordered the guards to resist from being evicted.

As of this posting Monday, Chief Inspector Eliseo Malana Jr., chief of the San Pedro police, said they are still awaiting a complaint from the DDH.

Sepulchre said 8 Silver Security Agency claimed their security services cannot be terminated because they still have an existing contract with the DDH management.

Sepulchre explained that the issue about a client rendering the security agency services is a matter of trust and confidence.

"Nawala na ang trust and confidence ng Davao Doc," Sepulchre said.
He said 60 days before the replacement the DDH management already gave a pre-termination notice to the 8 Silver Security Agency.

He added there were three conferences held with the 8 Silver Security prior to the installation of the Seabren Security Agency to avoid any untoward incident.

Some of the guards, who were resisting the change, claimed not getting the right salary from their agency, he said.

Sepulchre said this could have been what was demotivating the guards from performing their duties well.

Dema-ala, on the other hand, said the hospital is now secured with the new security agency.

He said a certain Miss Jam from the Davao Doctor's Hospital human resources department claimed that there were six 8 Silver Security Agency who assisted and briefed the newly-installed guards.

The DDH hospital is yet to issue an official statement. (ANC)