Malls have become not merely shopping and leisure complexes  but as congregating places for people killing time while the traffic outside eases, rains and floods stop, or when the heat outside subsides.

Mall owners do no prevent these people from coming in because of their propensity to hunt for bargains, especially when they announced a three-day sale.

Needless to say, mall operators are duty-bound to ensure their safety and security while people are inside their huge complexes.

Such mantle of protection can be provided through adequate, competent, and courteous security personnel aided by modern gizmos like metal and weapons detectors, scanners, and even closed-circuit television cameras.

Human and electronic surveillance should be enough to prevent armed robbers, terrorists, other criminals, and plain civilians bearing dangerous weapons like guns, bombs, and even  knives.

These are modest investments that could easily pay off for these mall operators in terms of higher volume of shoppers who are encouraged to shop, dine, watch movies or hang around in leisure, hobby, or sports activities that are offered in most malls.

It is basic human nature that people tend to go to places where they and their families or loved ones feel safe.

And yet for two weeks, one mall recorded two shooting incidents within its premises that led to the death of three people. This after a similar incident at the end of July that caused the life of another.

The main reason: Lax entrance security inspection.

The incidents happened at three SM malls – the first in Iloilo City, the second on SM North EDSA, and the latest in Pampanga.

SM management should have tightened its security arrangements and protocols right after the first shooting and not have waited for the second and third incidents.

Such insensitivity to public safety and security betrays an outrageous neglect of consumer welfare on the part of SM management.

The triple shooting incidents prompted no less than Malacanang to  call on SM to tighten its security arrangements.

Malacañang told owners of shopping malls and security agencies  following the series of shooting incidents inside the SM malls.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said despite inspection of bags and body frisking, firearms still managed to get sneaked inside the mall.

“We hope they will be aware of the safety of the public patronizing their malls. We allow ourselves to be frisked, and there’s a certain expectation that your security level is high. It turns out it’s not,” Lacierda told Palace reporters.

Meanwhile, National Police Civil Security Group chief Emil Sarmiento has ordered a thorough review of the security procedures in shopping malls and other commercial establishments in the wake of the incidents.

Sarmiento ordered PNP Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies head Chief Supt. Samuel Diciano to investigate the possible lapses committed by security guards where the incidents took place.

Diciano said there was no immediate need to recommend the revocation of the licenses of the security agencies assigned at the two malls because the agencies were not identical.

SM management deplored the incidents and said it was fully cooperating with police investigation.