PCSO to give medical aid to child of guard in Eton standoff

MANILA — The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office on Thursday said it will help the family of the security guard who locked himself inside the security office of Eton Centris Commercial Center along EDSA in Quezon City due to his sick child who needs to undergo surgery.

PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan said he immediately directed his staff to coordinate with the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) when he heard the news over the radio to determine how the agency can help the child.

QCPD Director, Police Chief Superintendent Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar identified the security guard as Herminigildo R. Marsula Jr, 33, married with two children and resident of PNWC Phase 2B Blk. 3 Lot 16 Kaypian Road, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan .

Marsula, who works at Grandiose Security and Services Corp., who was under the influence of alcohol when the incident occurred.

“The PCSO is always ready to help Filipinos, whether they are rich or poor, we are always ready to help them,” Balutan said in a statement.

“As I always say, the agency does not choose who to help, everyone is welcome here. That is the real mandate of the agency, to help those in need,” Balutan added.

Balutan said every Filipino in need should not hesitate to seek PCSO assistance.

“The PCSO is one with the government in fulfilling the dream of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte that no one will die due to sickness because they don’t have money to pay for hospitalization,” Balutan said.

For his part, PCSO Chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz assured Marsula’s family that the agency will help in paying the hospital cost of the sick child’s operation.

“That is our mandate to assist the medical and financial needs of Filipinos whether they are security guards or any Juan dela Cruz,” Corpuz said.

Balutan said that the PCSO has 57 branches in different parts of the country, can submit the required documents to the nearest branch for us to give you financial assistance.

Initial investigation showed that at around 3 a.m., Wednesday, the suspect had a drinking session with a fellow security guard and had a heated argument but were later pacified.

Marsula was then allowed by the security in-charge to rest inside their office; however, Marsula went out banging the wall.

Later, Marsula punched a passer-by identified as Laniel Alegre Aquino, 23, of Biñan, Laguna. Aquino sought assistance from a policeman at the Centris Police Assistance Center who immediately responded.

However, upon seeing Aquino and the policeman, Marsula aimed his handgun to them and went inside the security office and locked himself up. This prompted the policeman to call for back up.

Eleazar facilitated the negotiation for the peaceful surrender of the guard thru PS-10 Commander PSupt pedro Sanchez with the security guard’s relatives’ considering the threat of committing suicide after it was learned that he was under the influence of liquor due to family financial problems.

He was subsequently convinced to surrender to the authorities at past 8:00 this morning.

Seized from Marsula was a Rock Island cal. 9 mm pistol.

Marsula was brought to PS-10 for investigation and will face charges of alarm and scandal, grave threats, physical injury and illegal possession of firearm.

Eleazar dismissed earlier reports that there was a hostage drama and that the security guard went amok. He also clarified that there was no lockdown of the entire Eton Centris building, instead, only the area around the security office located at the basement of call center recruitment office where the guard holed up was secured by PS-10 personnel and members of Special Reaction Unit (SRU).

“Napag-alaman natin na may financial problems itong guwardya dahil sa ‘yung panganay nilang anak ay maysakit at kaya daw siya naglasing at nagkulong doon. Kaya ang isang inaaalala namin ay yung threat na sa sarili ng gwardya baka mag-suicide. At sa tulong nga nung asawa at father-in-law at ibang mga mahal sa buhay, kasama nga nung anak niyang maysakit na pinasundo natin, nakumbinsi natin siyang sumurender.

Subalit ganun pa man, kailangan niyang harapin ang mga isasampang kaso laban sa kanya,” he noted.

”Muli nating pinaaalalahanan ang mga security agencies na suriing mabuti ang mga kinukuhang security personnel upang masiguro ang kapakanan at seguridad ng mga tao at maiwasan ang anumang kapahamakan,” Eleazar added.