MANILA (UPDATED) — A mall in Quezon City has dismissed one of its security guards for allegedly throwing a puppy from an overpass on Tuesday.

According to Janine Santos, who witnessed the cruelty, the security guard was directing the children to leave the premises.

After refusing to do so, he then allegedly threw their pet dog from an overpass outside of the establishment.

"Lahat po ng tao na nakasaksi halos maiyak dahil sa kawalang hiya nung security guard," Santos said in a Facebook post.

The children and a representative of the mall then rushed to a veterinary clinic, Santos said, only for the puppy to be pronounced dead on arrival.

The animal died of brain damage and nose bleeding, according to Santos, citing the clinic's veterinarian.

The management of the mall announced that they have dismissed the security guard.

"As a pet-friendly establishment, we strongly condemn any acts that endanger or harm the lives of animals," they said in a statement.

"With extreme sadness, we sympathize with the group of youngsters regarding the incident that happened outside our mall today."

The management added that while the investigation is ongoing, the dismissed security guard is barred from servicing any of their malls nationwide.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), an anti-animal cruelty organization, said in a Facebook post that it would press charges against the security guard.

"PAWS is committed to file a case and hold accountable the person responsible for this horrific cruelty," it said.

"PAWS condemns in the strongest possible terms this act of cruelty. We are demanding an immediate investigation of this incident and we have gotten in touch with witnesses so that we can file a case."