I Saw The Sign - Of Life

There Was Still A Sign Of Life Yet Nobody Helped - SM City Pampanga Shooting Video Emerged In YouTube

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said it is investigating a YouTube video on the SM Pampanga shooting, which showed policemen and mall security watching one of the victims while he was still alive.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz said the investigation will look into the possible culpability of police officers and security guards who were seen in the video.

"Ire-review po nating lahat yan ginawang procedure and for them to submit a report," he said.

Two minors, aged 13 and 16, were killed during a shooting incident inside SM City in San Fernando town, Pampanga province last September 20. Police said the younger boy shot his companion due to a lovers' quarrel.

The incident was the second shooting inside an SM mall in a week and sparked concerns over lapses in mall security.

In the YouTube video, both boys can be seen lying on the floor inside the mall.

One of the two victims was lying face down but still moving his feet. He then rolled into a lying down position but did not get up.

The video also showed a photographer taking pictures of the 2 boys while security personnel walked near the two victims.

Based on the PNP Manual on Crime Scene Operations, Cruz said the police who acted as first responder to a crime should not touch or move the involved persons but rather make an immediate call for an emergency response unit to save any injured persons.

He said the situation is comparable to any vehicular accident where the police officers cannot act as rescuers since they are not well skilled and trained to do first aid operations.

"Hindi pwedeng hilahin ng pulis ang biktima. Kailangan dumating muna mga rescuer, mga emergency personnel. Baka kasi may injury na hindi pa nakikita," he said.

He added: "Ang unang dapat gawin ay humingi ng tulong sa expert, tumawag ng ambulansiya, baka any movement of the victim will aggravate the situation, kailangan hintayin may enough skill dahil baka makalala pa sa situation."

Emergency Response expert Edward Cuenca of EMT and SCAN International Emergency Response Unit reviewed the video uploaded in You Tube and saw some irregularities among the first responders seen on cam.

Cuenca questioned the appropriateness of whoever was taking pictures while the victims were grimacing in pain. He also noted the seemingly lack of cordon or security by the police, making it possible for bystanders to simply walk by the crime scene.

"Yung pulis sana kinordon na agad, nilayo na agad yung mga sibilyan," he said.

Cuenca said while they may have called for help, the police should have immediately taken pictures of the bodies lying on the floor and should have evacuated immediately the injured persons for the purpose of saving his life.

"Kung nakitang buhay pa, nag shoot na dapat ng picture, label, mark, and as much as possible dinala na agad," he said.

Cuenca also took notice of the mall guards who were wearing first aid kit bags around their waist but did not do anything to stop the bleeding.

"Pe-pwede sanang nagamit yun, pero ang tanong, ano laman ng first aid kit na yun?" he asked.

However, Cuenca said he cannot blame both the police and security guards if they did not take action, especially if in their minds, they are not trained to handle such gunshot wounds.

He said police and security guards should undergo tactical paramedic training to better equip themselves for incidents like the SM Pampanga shooting.