A mall guard who was caught on video destroying a sampaguita vendor’s wares outside SM Megamall has been dismissed, SM Supermalls said in a statement.

In a statement posted on Facebook, SM Supermall said it strongly condemns the incident and sympathizes with the young girl “who experienced an unfortunate incident outside our mall.”

“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 said.

Video of the incident showed a girl wearing a school uniform sitting on the steps outside the mall when a guard approached and told her to move elsewhere. The guard then grabbed and ripped up the girl's sampaguita garlands, causing the girl to throw the ruined product at the guard's face. 

The guard then kicked at the girl even as the latter continued to hit the guard who had dropped his walkie-talkie and handkerchief. 

Netizens criticized the guard for kicking the girl and destroying her garlands, saying the act could be considered child abuse.