Guard’s gun goes off in Talisay City Hall

CEBU, Philippines - A shotgun of a Blackpearl Security Agency blue guard went off Sunday morning inside the Talisay City Hall he was allegedly turning it over to a fellow security guard.

According to a City Hall worker who requested anonymity, they heard a loud gunshot around 9 a.m. yesterday while they were inside their office for that day’s marathon event.

It was later discovered that one Romeo Villacampa, a security guard of Blackpearl, allegedly and accidentally fired his service shotgun when he turned over it to another guard after his duty.

In a brief ocular inspection yesterday morning, guards and some City Hall workers showed to Mayor Johnny V. de los Reyes the small crack on the floor just outside the Treasurer’s Office.

The damage was said to be caused by the bullet coming from the shotgun.

According to witnesses, the bullet rebounded and hit the sides of the glass door of the said office, leaving small holes on hit portions. No one was harmed during the incident.

However, de los Reyes said he will have the matter investigated considering that the incident happened inside the City Hall and that it is “not normal” when a gun suddenly goes off.

“That is not normal nga circumstance. Pagtunol nimo, mobuto? Unsa man na, mobuto uroy kung naay daghang tawo. Kadelikado ba ana,” said the mayor.

De los Reyes said he will call the attention of the guard and if the investigation would reveal the guard was at fault, then he will face sanctions.

Meanwhile, the mayor said the services of Blackpearl could be extended or not, depending on its services.

For now, with what happened, he said he would wait for the recommendations of his department heads.

Blackpearl first became controversial after the Capitol did not award the P27-million contract to it a few months ago as in the midst of a post-qualification evaluation, one of its guards allegedly hit a passing driver of a motorcycle-for-hire.

The Talisay City government, according to de los Reyes, has hired Blackpearl on a contractual basis.  (FREEMAN)