VIRAL SAMPAGUITA VENDOR IS A 22-YEAR-OLD MEDTECH STUDENT – POLICE SAYS

Young sampaguita vendor in the viral video is a legitimate student police says, and not part of a syndicate or scheme (Photo courtesy of Kaxandra Salonga/ABS-CBN News)

The sampaguita vendor involved in the viral video outside SM Megamall who was shooed away by a security guard is a 22-year-old medical technology student according to the authorities. 

The vendor has been identified as “Marie” who has three siblings. She has a twin sister studying nursing, as well as siblings aged 19 and 23. Selling flowers earns her between P1,500 and P2000 daily which she uses to cover tuition, transport, and expenses daily according to a report.

She clarified that she is not part of any syndicate and refuted allegations that she cursed or spat at the guard. On a report by ABS-CBN News, the girl said she was selling sampaguita’s when the guard approached and told her to leave.

She asked to stay briefly to take shelter from the light rain while waiting to fetch her twin sister and a friend, who were also selling sampaguitas, so they could go home together. 

“Ayaw na muna niya mapakiusapan na doon na muna ako umupo, then parang inaambahan niya po ako na kukunin niya yung sampaguita ko. Tumayo na po ako noon and then, yun nga po, nung pagtayo ko po nun, hinablot niya po yung paninda ko,” the student vendor said.

“Hindi na po ako nakapigil, syempre po yung araw na yun, galit po ako talaga kasi naganun po ako. Feeling ko, ang baba ko, feeling ko ayun nga, dahil nagtitinda lang ako, ginanun ako,” she added.

The first-year medtech student also explained that she wore her old junior high school uniform while selling not to seek pity but because she had limited clothing and wanted to keep her only college uniform clean for school. 

The parents of the girl student also defend their daughter and expressed outrage over the incident. Despite the situation, the student vendor and her family are willing to forgive the security guard involved.

However, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced plans to pursue an administrative case against the guard. PNP Civil Security Group Spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Eudisan Gultiano said “We have given them a specific date next week to appear at our office. If they don’t comply, including the agency, we will formally file an administrative complaint.” 

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) learned that the student’s family was a former beneficiary of one of its poverty alleviation programs Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). 

Social workers would asses the situation of the student to determine other interventions it can provide her family. Also, it has since extended P20,000 in aid to “Marie” and plans to explore additional ways to support Marie’s sampaguita business. 

Source: Philippine News Agency

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