‘Sampaguita girl’ not suing security guard

MANILA, Philippines — The family of the young girl who was seen in a viral video selling sampaguita or jasmine garlands will not press charges against a security guard who kicked her outside a mall in Mandaluyong City.

Joel, the girl’s father, told ABS-CBN that they are not inclined to file criminal or administrative charges against the guard as he, just like them, could also be coming from a poor family.

Department of Social Welfare and Development personnel visited the girl’s family in a shantytown in Barangay Baesa in Quezon City on Friday to gather more information about the incident and determine the kind of assistance they need.

According to the girl’s mother, Judith, the girl and her twin sister wore a public high school uniform, even when they are already in college.

The twins are scholars and studying medical technology at a private school.

Judith added that the twins sell sampaguita garlands to help cover for other school expenses.

“But I always remind them to finish their modules first before going out to sell flowers,” Judith said as she denied some comments from netizens that the girl in the viral video is a member of a syndicate that uses girls wearing school uniforms to get sympathy from the public.

The only reason why the girls are wearing those uniforms is for them to avoid getting caught by law enforcers who go after illegal vendors, Judith explained.

“My daughters are not members of a syndicate. If they are not wearing those uniforms, they would be arrested for illegal vending,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Supervisory Office on Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA) of the Philippine National Police has summoned the security guard and his agency to explain.

Lt. Col. Eudisan Gultiano, spokesperson for the Civil Security Group, said the summons were served on Friday and the guard and the security agency’s officers might appear in a hearing next week.