SBMA Orders “Illegal” Security Guards To Leave Ocean Adventure Immediately

The security agency, which a rival group claiming ownership of Ocean Adventure, used in the controversial takeover of the marine theme park last week has been found to have no accreditation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and, therefore, cannot operate or conduct business in the Subic Freeport, prompting SBMA to order it to cease operations and vacate the facility.

SBMA Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said in a statement released to media persons that “the security agency that provided the guards involved in the incident has been directed to vacate the Ocean Adventure facility and to immediately cease and desist from any and all operations within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.”

The pull-out and cease & desist order was issued by Atty. Severo C. Pastor, Jr., manager of the SBMA Labor Department, addressed to Felicito A. Valmocina, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the security agency and barangay chairman of Bgy. Holy Spirit, Quezon City.

A certain Ana Gutierrez, executive vice president of the security agency received the notice at about 3Pm on Thursday.

According to Pastor, SBMA’s cease & desist and pull-out order was reached after the conference conducted by the SBMA Labor Dept. on February 20, 2017 where Philand Security was given the chance to give an explanation.

Records show that last month, Philand Security Agency has applied for SBMA accreditation to provide security services within the Freeport Zone. However, with its involvement in the Ocean Adventure takeover, on top of other violations, including lack of necessary clearances from the SBMA Law Enforcement Department (LED) and Public Health & Safety Departments, the SBMA also decided to deny the security agency’s application for accreditation.

With the SBMA’s order, Philand Security will not only have to pull-out from Ocean Adventure but also from the Red Cross Training Center at the former Naval Magazine area of the Freeport, where it has also been providing services, also sans compliance with SBMA requirements.

Philand also faces the possibility of being “black-listed” and be barred from ever doing business in the Freeport for what an SBMA Regulatory Group official described as “glaring and unabashed” violations of Freeport rules and regulations.

Administrator Eisma has earlier said that the SBMA “strongly condemns the use of undue force by the new management… in the takeover of the Ocean Adventure facility…”

Dr. Robert C. Braun, board chairman of Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium, Inc. (SBMEI) which runs Ocean Adventure described the takeover as nothing other than thuggery. “abusing and evicting the women from the staff dormitory, displacing security… they broke down doors, forced open a vault and coerced scared staff to attend to their demands…,” Braun narrated in a statement released to the media.

Scott N. Sharpe, a director and shareholder of the SBMEI with a 0.1148 % share, led the take-over, which the SBMA LED report said included 18 personnel from the PNP-Special Action Forces (SAF) from Bataan and seven (7) regular PNP personnel from Morong, Bataan.

Having taken over physically, Sharpe’s group convened what they claim as the new board majority which allegedly elected him (Sharpe) as the new President/CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors, replacing Arthur D. Tai and Braun, respectively.

Sharpe has been denying the presence of PNP-SAF personnel during the take-over, claiming their action was “lawfully carried out…”

A statement from Sharpe’s group said they “requested the presence of the Philippine National Police during that time in order to assure the peaceful enforcement of a court order.” Upon checking, however, Subic Bay News determined that contrary to Sharpe’s statement, there was no court order to take over Ocean Adventure, only a mere dismissal by a local court of a suit without resolving the company’s ownership issue.

Eisma has said in her statement that the “SBMA strongly condemns the use of undue force by the new management of the Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium, Inc. (SBMEI) in the takeover of the Ocean Adventure facility…”

She also said that “the actions taken by the new SBMEI management headed by Mr. Scott Sharpe were clearly not in accordance with proper and lawful procedures strictly enforced in the Freeport.”

Despite the strong words, however, Eisma dodges the question on what action SBMA will take, if any, against Sharpe’s group whom she said violated “proper and lawful procedures” of the Freeport, ignoring queries on the matter sent to her.

She maintains “SBMA has no intention to involve itself in intra-corporate disputes, we will act accordingly to ensure peace and order and the rule of law within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.”

Meanwhile, operations at Ocean Adventure appears to be normal despite the lack of personnel, with some refusing to recognise Sharpe’s group’s management opting not to report for duty, or were dismissed, raising doubts on how long the situation can be sustained.

Tai and Braun have made themselves beyond reach for comments and are mum on the situation after issuing their respective statements the day after the Valentine’s eve takeover. -30-