Official Statement of SM Megamall on Sampaguita Vendor vs. Security Guard Incident
SM MEGAMALL – The shopping mall has issued an official statement regarding the viral video involving a female sampaguita vendor and a security guard.
In the video, a young female student, selling sampaguita garlands outside the mall, is seen being harshly confronted by a security guard. While holding her garlands and a box, the guard tries to escort her off the property, possibly to enforce the mall’s ban on street vending.
The situation intensified when the guard forcibly took the garlands from the girl’s hands, damaging them in the process. Upset, the girl reacted by hitting the guard with the remaining garlands. At one point, the guard seemed to kick the young girl, which sparked widespread outrage from the public.
The video, which spread quickly across social media platforms like TikTok, generated a variety of reactions. While some supported the guard’s responsibility to enforce rules, the majority criticized the excessive force used against the girl. Many argued that a more understanding and respectful approach could have been taken.
Following the public outrage, SM Megamall issued an official apology and confirmed the dismissal of the security guard involved. The mall expressed sorrow over the incident, offered their condolences to the girl, and announced that they had initiated an immediate investigation with the security agency. They assured that the guard would no longer be employed at any of their locations.
Here is the official statement from SM Megamall:
“We regret and sympathize with the young girl who experienced an unfortunate incident outside our mall. We have called the attention of the security agency to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation. The Security Guard has been dismissed and will no longer be allowed to service any of our malls. As SM Supermalls always promotes inclusivity for all, we strongly condemn this act committed against her.”
