Lawmaker’s wife, actress’ husband among victims

MANILA, Philippines - The wife of Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga’s third district was one of the fatalities in the fire at Resorts World Manila.

Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas confirmed this to reporters yesterday.

Fariñas said he had asked Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa to locate Gonzales’ wife at Resorts World.

He quoted Dela Rosa’s response: “Sir positive. Wife of Rep. Dong Gonzales of Pampanga – Elizabeth Panlilio Gonzales – died in the incident. We are still looking for her sister Consolacion P. Mijares. No report yet.”

A relative of Gonzales said Mijares was still missing as of yesterday afternoon.

The congressman, who was with Fariñas and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on a six-day inspection of infrastructure projects in Northern Luzon, rushed back to Manila upon learning of the tragedy.

He brought his wife’s body to nearby Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City.

Gonzales and wife Elizabeth both hailed from the town of Mexico. She was 57.

Colleagues and his constituents in Pampanga’s third district condoled with him, expressing sadness over his wife’s death.

“We are so saddened by what happened. He was with us in the bus and he had to rush back to Metro Manila because he was so worried only to have his worst fear confirmed,” said Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III.

Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo urged the public to exercise “utmost vigilance” even though the authorities have ruled out any link between the Resorts World tragedy and the ongoing siege in Marawi City.

He also condoled with the kin of the victims.

Actress injured, her husband missing

Former actress Azenith Briones is among those injured, while her husband is missing.

Briones ran to the kitchen and jumped from the second floor to the ground floor. She has not seen or heard from her husband since.

Gil Yangco and his wife Cathy burst into tears upon learning that their daughter Hazel, who worked at Resorts World, was killed. – With Perseus Echeminada