The security agency in-charge of guarding city hall, city parks, and other city government-owned properties denied being responsible when the city’s coaster was discovered missing for 13 hours between June 3 and 4.

GMT Interlink Security Management Corporation’s initial investigation showed at around 3:50 a.m., General Services Office driver Gerardo Soriano parked the coaster, with license plate SHY 511, at the city hall compound and turned over the ignition key to Rolando Vibal, the guard on duty. 

In a report to the security agency, Vibal said he was told by Soriano to give the ignition key to an unnamed person as that person would have the coaster washed.

That time, the guard noticed that the vehicle had scratches at the back.

At around 5:30 a.m. of June 3, a person who only introduced himself as Vincent and alleged nephew of Soriano got the key from the security guard.

Between that time until June 4, the coaster was nowhere to be found.

At around 9 a.m. of June 4, an official of Interlink reported the coaster was discovered parked along Military Cut-Off.

When the agency inquired from Soriano if he is acquainted with “Vincent,” the GSO driver denied knowing the person but at the same time could not name the person who was supposed to get the ignition key from the security guard.

Soriano was also reported not cooperating with the security agency, which was on the process of identifying the person or people who drove the coaster.

Interlink Executive Asst. to the Operations Director Mark Padcayan reported to Interlink Chief Executive Officer Julius John Marrero the GSO did not report the vehicle as officially missing and it was him who discovered the coaster at Military Cut-Off.

Because there was no official report, Padcayan said they presumed the vehicle was out on official business.

Interlink admitted operational lapses when their guard failed to get Vincent’s complete name and relied only on Soriano’s verbal instruction.

Padcayan recommended further investigation, particularly on Soriano’s denial that he knew who got the coaster’s ignition key. 

“It is highly suspicious and improbable that his denial of knowing that a certain Vincent is the main reason why the city government vehicle was allowed outside the premises of city hall,” Padcayan’s report reads.

To avoid a repeat of the incident, Padcayan suggested for the GSO to provide the security agency a copy of the trip ticket of all government vehicles that are used for official business. The ticket will allow the security agency to record the arrival and departure time of all city-owned vehicles.

Marrero believes there are efforts to discredit his firm from getting the city’s security contract again. He said putting the blame on the guard and eventually the agency could ruin Interlink’s chances of bagging the contract even if it is the only remaining bidder.

“It has been done in the past and we know there is a move to discredit us so that another agency could get the contract,” Marrero told reporters on Tuesday.

He said they might request the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a pararrel inquiry.

Interlink, which has 800 personnel, is also the security provider of Pagcor and the Clark International Airport.