Speaker: RW attack an act of terror

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez is insisting that the Resorts World attack is an act of terrorism and not a failed robbery, despite police pronouncement that it was an attempt by a lone gunman to rob the casino-hotel.

The unidentified gunman set some casino tables ablaze. At least 37 people died due to suffocation. Authorities have recovered P113 million worth of casino chips taken by the gunman.

“I disagree with the conclusion reached by law enforcement authorities that the Resorts World incident was not a terrorist act but rather a criminal case of armed robbery and arson,” Alvarez said.

“This is a clear example of a ‘lone wolf’ terrorist attack targeting civilians to inflict maximum loss of life and damage to property, as what has happened in other countries,” he said.

But Alvarez offered no proof that the gunman was a lone wolf terrorist, one who acts alone but is motivated by the ideology of an external group.

Alvarez called on the concerned agencies to “get their act together and put in place the highest level of security measures to prevent this from happening again, here or elsewhere in the country.”

“This incident should be a wake-up call for the police and the military to cooperate closely in making the seat of government and our financial and business center safe from any terrorist attack, whether by ‘lone wolves’ or heavily armed terrorist contingents, as what happened in Marawi City,” he added.

Alvarez said the government must draw up a “clear and better plan” to secure Metro Manila and other parts of the country from terrorists.

He said business establishments must do their share by installing close-circuit television cameras and similar equipment and employing trained security personnel.

“We also urge the citizenry to actively help the government fight terrorism in all its forms by providing information to authorities on suspicious or unusual activities in their communities.

He condoled with the families of those who died, including the wife of Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr.

Reps. Winston Castelo of Quezon City and Rodel Batocabe of party-list group Ako Bicol urged the House of Representatives to inquire into the Resorts World attack.

Castelo said the committee on games and amusement should conduct hearings during the current recess of Congress.

“We want to give justice to those who died needlessly,” he said.

Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting, who chairs the games and amusement committee, said of the tragedy: “Truly horrifying. Horrible as it is, we have to defer in the meantime to our law enforcement authorities.”

Leyte Rep. Yedda Romualdez expressed her sympathies to the families of the victims. “I stand against anyone who dares harm innocent people and cause chaos in our peaceful society,” she said.

Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr. said the loss of lives at the casino-hotel “is simply unacceptable.”

“We are undeniably living in dangerous times, so we are counting on all establishments to constantly review and upgrade their security plans and emergency preparedness, especially their procedures in safely evacuating patrons and staff,” he said.