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    Araneta security force defends handling of Spiderman streaker incident

    Big Dome security doubles measures following Spiderman stunt
    May 11, 2019
    PHOTO: Jerome Ascano

    SPIDERMAN'S unexpected intervention in Game Five of the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup Finals between Magnolia and San Miguel raised a lot of eyebrows, putting the spotlight on the security inside the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

    Not a few players and coaches voiced their concerns about how the intruder was able to get to the court without much trouble before colliding with SMB big men June Mar Fajardo and Christian Standhardinger.

    Eyewitnesses shared that the man, later identified as Paolo Felizarta, leaped from the lower box area to the court where he tried to get everyone's attention with his placards bearing messages of positivity.

    But the Big Dome's in-house security force believes they handled the situation to the best of their capabilities.

    "Nagawa naman ng mga security natin yung dapat nilang gawin," security-in-charge Archie Evangelista told Spin.ph on Saturday. "Hindi naman natin inaasahan talaga yun eh. Isip lang natin is magpasaya ng fans, pero yun yung mga insidente na hindi natin inaasahan."

    Bouncers and PBA personnel quickly led Felizarta out of the playing court and dragged him to the back where reporters and even PBA commissioner Willie Marcial tried to get a word out of him. There, he told everyone that he only wanted to spread the message of peace, especially with the midterm elections on Monday.

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    Another man, identified later as Flenn John Lola, was also picked by the security from the stands for allegedly being an accessory to Felizarta's brazen act. He, however, did not go unscathed as he suffered punches from "men in red" as he made his way out through the court.

    Evangelista, though, defended the route the security took, saying: "Yung court is a controlled area and yun ang pinakamabilis na access papunta sa likod. Kung sa gilid pa ng bench dinaan yun, baka mas nagkaroon pa ng kaguluhan. Kita niyo naman, nasa dulo na, may nakasuntok pa."

    A man in white also threw a punch at Lola near the backstage area but was also quickly picked by the bouncers. He has yet to be identified.

    Lola has since denied claims that he is in cahoots with Spiderman.

    Evangelista said Big Dome security followed everything in their standard operating procedure (SOP) when it comes to untoward incidents.

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    "Ang SOP talaga pag may ganoong situation sa ganitong venue, dinadala talaga dito sa security office and then, pag hindi naayos yun, tinu-turn over sa police station. Kung may mag-file ng complaint, itutuloy yung kaso sa suspect," he said.

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      The individuals have been turned over to the nearby Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 7, where they spent the evening and are expected to be held until Tuesday.

      Learning from last night's scene, Evangelista said Big Dome will be shoring up its security force to avoid similar occurrence in the future.

      "Nagdagdag kami ng manpower and yung set-up ng security measures natin para di na maulit yung nangyari. Mineeting ko na rin yung mga idi-dispatch nating guards para mag-adjust sila sa operations," he said, with these measures immediately being enforced on Saturday's UAAP Season 81 volleyball Finals.

      "Actually, mas higit pa sa 100 percent yung fulfillment natin na hindi na yun mauulit."

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      PHOTO: Jerome Ascano
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