SM Megamall dismissed a security guard on Wednesday, Jan. 15, after he was caught in a viral video kicking a young sampaguita vendor and destroying her flowers outside the mall.
The incident, which quickly spread on social media, drew widespread condemnation and prompted swift action from the mall management.
“We regret and sympathize with the young girl who experienced an unfortunate incident outside our mall,” SM Megamall said in a statement.
“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,” it added.
The mall also emphasized its commitment to inclusivity and condemned the guard’s actions, describing them as unacceptable.
The video shows the guard arguing with the girl, who was wearing a school uniform and selling sampaguita outside the establishment. The confrontation escalated when the guard destroyed the girl’s bundles of flowers. The girl retaliated by hitting the guard with the damaged sampaguita, prompting the guard to respond physically.