MANILA, Philippines — (UPDATE 3 – 11:25 a.m.) A security guard who sowed panic then locked himself in an office at the Eton Centris commercial and entertainment complex in Quezon City early Wednesday morning has surrendered.
The guard, who was identified as Herminigildo Marsula Jr. and described as drunk and suffering from personal problems,surrendered past 8 a.m.
Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, Quezon City Police District director, clarified that it was not the whole complex that was locked down and that business remained normal in the area.
In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, Eton Centris’ AVP-Operations Marjorie Abot said: “This morning’s incident at WiPro BPO office involving a disturbed security guard was peacefully resolved with the guard’s surrender to the PNP. Credit and thank you go out to the Philippine National Police QC, Eton Centris Operations Team, and WiPro management for their exemplary handling of the situation. Eton Centris is open and under normal operations.”
One woman earlier told News5 she and her friends were playing games on their cellular phones when Marsula, who was off-duty, arrived around 3 a.m.
“Una sumigaw siya ng ‘Tulong, tulong,’ kaya nabigyan ko ng atensyon after humingi siya ng tulong sabay angat ng baril, itinutok sa lahat. Siyempre open kami diyan sa gilid nagkatakbuhan na kami sa gilid after twice naglabas ng baril (At first he shoutd ‘Help, help,’ which got my attention but then he drew his gun and aimed it at everyone. There was open space to the side so we ran there after he drew his gun twice),” she said.
He then locked himself in an office at the ground floor of the complex’s office building, which houses business process outsourcing companies.
Explaining why it took hours to resolve the situation, Eleazar said they were monitoring Marsula from the building’s CCTV room where “nakikita natin ‘yung movement niya du’n at hawak niya ‘yung 9mm (pistol) tinututok sa kanya so nabahala ako baka mag-suicide (we could see his movements and he would point the 9mm at himself so I was concerned he might commit suicide).”
He stressed that Marsula had done no harm and damaged no property and was likely to realize that there was a peaceful way out.
That break came when Marsula’s wife and mother-in-law arrived at the complex on the corner of EDSA and Quezon Avenue to help convince him to surrender peacefully.
The mother-in-law was allowed into the room where the guard was holed out and, after a few minutes, he had been convinced to give up.
Eleazar learned that worry over needed treatment for his sick child had pushed Marsula over the edge.
“Sinabihan natin na we will coordinate with (the) appropriate agency para matulungan ang kanyang anak (We told him we would coordinate with the appropriate agency to help his child),” the police officer said.
Marsula was taken to a hospital after his surrender. He will be charged with grave threats and alarm and scandal.
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