A 22-year-old sampaguita vendor who went viral after being forcibly removed by a mall security guard has firmly denied allegations that she is part of a syndicate, addressing what she called baseless accusations that have caused her distress.
The vendor clarified that she was selling sampaguitas on December 17 and briefly sought shelter from light rain while waiting for her twin sister and a friend when the mall security guard confronted her and told her to leave.
In the viral video, some netizens speculated that she was part of an organized begging syndicate, an accusation she vehemently denied. “Nababasa ko po sa mga comment section na ako raw po yung lider ng mga sindikato, which is hindi naman po,” she said in an ABS-CBN News report.
She also dismissed claims that she begged aggressively or cursed and spat at the security guard. “Hindi ko po ugaling mangganun ng tao lalo na po at naka-school uniform po ako,” she clarified.
The vendor explained that the uniform seen in the viral photos was her old junior high school attire, which she wore to stay presentable while selling. “Nagsusuot po ako ng uniform kasi para maging disente po sa harap ng tao at hindi po pagpapanggap yun. Totoo naman po akong nag-aaral,” she said.
She further denied allegations that she pressured people for money or was the girl seen in other images begging on buses. The “Namamasko po” sign on her box, she explained, was simply for the holiday season.
The viral incident and subsequent backlash have deeply affected her, forcing her to stop selling sampaguitas due to trauma. “Masakit man isipin pero… kailangan ko na lang harapin,” she said, adding that she struggled to focus on her studies after her private information was leaked online.
Despite having a partial college scholarship, she depends on her earnings to cover tuition and support her family. “Kailangan ko po talaga magtinda para maka-survive ako sa pag-aaral,” she shared, explaining that her mother’s frequent illness has added to their financial burdens.
The vendor also expressed guilt over the security guard losing his job, saying, “Gusto ko po humingi ng sorry sa kanya, and at the same time hindi ko po ginusto na matanggal siya sa trabaho.”
She thanked the Department of Social Welfare and Development and concerned netizens for providing financial and psychosocial support during this challenging time, which has helped her temporarily step back from selling while recovering from the ordeal.
