Everyone deserves to have a decent job, where you are given of importance as an employee, regardless of the type of job you have. But in our unjust and inequitable society, where the thriving patronage system-that only favors the privileged- exists, workers are exploited of their rights and experience undesirable circumstances in the workplace.

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In our constitution, it is clearly written in Article 3 BILL OF RIGHTS, Section 1 that “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of laws.”

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However, for a security guard who experienced corruption and illicit acts of backing system in their workplace for over the last 5 years despite dutifully doing his job, we should ask, does the law actually protects everybody or simply those individuals with influence?

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It is a simple desire to seek justice, but even people with the purest of intentions to do so, could choose violence when their understanding and tolerance have reached the maximum mark.

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With the hostage-taking incident that took place in Greenhills last March 2, 2020 by security guard Alchie Paray, it’s easy for everybody to see him as the villain and plainly neglect his side of the story, but we deserve to know the core reason of that action that led to a harmful afermath. 

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It’s only the truth that could bring us the greatest freedom and protection. And that’s what he demanded and wanted to express-his version of truth. 

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Panay strictly enfored the mall’s “No ID, No Entry” policy as a security guard, but a tenant threatened him, saying “You will not last here anymore”. He was then ordered to immediately transfer by the management, and that made a negative impact on him. The reassignment caused him to quit work. But for the management, he was accused to have absences without leave (AWOL) and was already replaced by another guard.

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This became his battle-a trigger for him to take everything under his own hands. It’s true that he placed the lives of the hostages in great danger, but this was his only way to express himself and let everyone hear his silent cries.

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Our job is our property to help us survive. Such reassignment means, big adjustments and problems for him; it means a change of  lodging and transportation since he was only commuting to work, a change of management, new set of people to work with again, and much more.

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A warning or written notice should have been given if the management’s discretion was to inform him about a complaint against him, but based on the decision, it is due to patronage and bribery. He’s been given an unfair and inhumane treatment.

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If the leaders of the company are honest and have proper management system implemented, this hostage-taking should not have been Paray’s way to express his rights. This should serve as an eye-opener for all of us; that everyone must be treated equally under the protection of law.