2 guards charged in condo dispute death

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City police filed on Friday homicide charges against two security guards for the fatal shooting of another security guard during a standoff at the Burgundy Corporate Tower condominium Thursday afternoon.

Now facing charges before the Makati City prosecutor’s office are Raymond Leon and Mark Anthony Romero, both employees of the SWAG security agency.

Makati City police chief Senior Superintendent Manuel Lukban said the two security guards were identified by their colleagues as the ones who allegedly fired shotguns in the standoff between guards of the SWAG security agency and the Sidekick security agency.

Shot dead in the standoff was Sidekick security guard Jimmy Lagunsad, who was hit in the chest. Lagunsad was among a group of security guards who accompanied court sheriff Leonel Roxas in serving a notice of temporary restraining order (TRO) to the old board of directors of the 38-story condominium, led by Roger Serafica.

Police said the shooting, which happened at around 5:30 p.m. on the driveway of the building on Gil Puyat Avenue, stemmed from a dispute between the building’s old board, led by Serafica, and the newly elected board led by Ramon Garcia.

The two boards are fighting for control of the 10-year-old building constructed by Burgundy Realty Corp.

On Thursday afternoon, Makati Judge Joselito Villarosa issued the TRO, which prevented Serafica and the directors of the old board from exercising their power and functions in the building.

Police said the sheriff was met with resistance by a hundred members of the SWAG security agency employed by the Serafica group.