PNP to summon ‘sampaguita girl’

MANILA, Philippines — The “sampaguita” vendor who was kicked by a security guard in Mandaluyong City will be summoned by police to shed light on the incident, which went viral on social media.

Lt. Col. Eudisan Gultiano, spokesperson for the police Civil Security Group, said yesterday the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies would invite the girl to appear before a SOSIA evaluator so she can give her side of the story.

The girl was selling jasmine garlands or sampaguita in front of a mall when the security guard told her to leave.

When she refused, the guard grabbed the garlands.

The guard kicked the girl after she retaliated. The incident, which occurred last December, was recorded and posted online by a netizen.

Should the girl ignore the police summon, Gultiano said the SOSIA would still proceed with its preliminary investigation of the case.

The sampaguita vendor, in an interview on ABS-CBN News, has apologized to the security guard, saying she did not want him to lose his job over the incident.

The guard has until tomorrow to submit his counter-affidavit.

Gultiano said the security guard may face sanctions, ranging from fines to suspension of license if he is found liable for violating standard operating procedures.