THE Capitol and other buildings owned by the Province now have a new set of security guards.
The guards of Blackpearl Security Agency were deployed to their new assignments last Sunday.
But some of them do not have firearms and did not allegedly coordinate with Capitol officials in-charge of the buildings assigned to them.
“Aw, janitor ra tingali ang pagtan-aw nila nako (Maybe I’m just a janitor to them),” said Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) manager Vicente Dejoras.
Like Dejoras, Larsian manager Carmen Quijano also said the new guards did not coordinate with her. She also said they have no firearms.
Sun.Star Cebu found out that Larsian guards Jobert Valle and Elmer Suello had no firearms as of 3 p.m. Monday.
The security guard assigned at Vice Governor Agnes Magpale’s office, Joel Olita, did not have a firearm, too, only a holster.
Another Blackpearl security guard assigned at the Capitol gate, C.G. Dela Cerna, also had an empty holster, as well as the one assigned at the main door.
Governor Hilario Davide III assured that they have their own security force at the bus terminal and Capitol, the Civil Security Unit, and policemen backing them up.
Bids
“Have Mr. (Siegfred) Sepe checked on that? Importante baya ning armas (firearms are important),” Davide told City attorney and Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chair Orvi Ortega.
Sepe is the newly designated Provincial General Services Office (PGSO) head.
After Davide learned about it, the guards at Magpale’s office and at the main door were immediately issued firearms.
“Kung magkagubot ug naay armadong kriminal, di makasukol among gwardiya, piligro ang iyang kahimtang ug ang amo (These guards are useless against armed criminals)” a Capitol employee said.
One office head had the guard sign an undertaking that he had no issued firearms.
“I really don’t know how true nga wala silay pusil. Blackpearl just took the risk, nihangop sila sa hangyo (sa Capitol) nga magpabutang og tawo,” said Ortega.
He said the contract with Tactical Security Agency expired last May 31 without extension.
Since Capitol needed to security guards, they asked Blackpearl, which said yes even if there was no memorandum of agreement yet.
BAC also has yet to verify Blackpearl’s records, Ortega said. (OCP)