Rody pays last respects to Resorts World victims

MANILA, Philippines -  President Duterte paid last respects to the victims of last Friday’s rampage at Resorts World Manila by visiting their wake, hours before authorities established the identity of the gunman.

Acting Interior Secretary Catalino Cuy said Duterte met and extended condolences to Taiwan’s representative to the Philippines Dr. Gary Song-Huann Lin.

Taiwanese Hing Tung Tsung, Lai Wei-Ching and Lai Yu-Chieh were among those killed in the attack.

The President also went to the wake of another victim, Carmelita de la Cruz, then proceeded to Rizal Funeral Homes in Pasay City at the wake of Eleuterio Reyes, the husband of former actress Azenith Briones, who was also injured during the attack.

Duterte then went to the wake of Elizabeth Panlilio Gonzales, the wife of Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. at the Heritage Park.

Cuy said the government is helping Taiwan to bring home the remains of the three victims.

“On Monday, they want to go back to Taiwan. So, they are planning that the bodies be cremated. We are coordinating with the local government to fasttrack the necessary papers,” Cuy said.

“They are also thankful for the assistance that we are doing to facilitate the transport of the ashes to Taiwan on Monday,” he said, referring to officials of the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office in Manila.

According to Cuy, the President viewed the security video of the incident showing the movements of the gunman identified as Jessie Javier Carlos, a former government employee.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde showed Duterte the video and briefed him about details of the investigation.

“The President had seen the video footage of the suspect which bolstered further his views that the incident was not a handiwork of the Islamic (State) group,” Cuy said.

On Saturday night, several hours after the incident, Duterte remarked that the attacker was simply “crazy,”discounting any links to the Islamic State, saying “this is not the work of ISIS,” which is “more cruel and brutal.”

Duterte yesterday cursed at Carlos, who was said to be heavily in debt before he staged the attack.

“He’s a habitual gambler. Not even an addict. So he lost everything in his life then he became a fool. He lost his mind,” he said. 

The President also expressed disappointment on the high number of casualties who all died from suffocation.

“The hotel has to explain to us why there were no exits. They (victims) hid in the small rooms, in storage (facilities) and in the toilets, in the comfort room and they died of suffocation and to think there is only one son of a b**** running rampage,” Duterte later told reporters in Subic Bay yesterday. 

Duterte said he has apologized to the families over the incident, which was initially perceived to be a terrorist attack.  

“I’m sorry it had to happen,” he said.

Sympathies and support 

Cuy said the President congratulated Albayalde and his men “for a job well done, and swift action” in solving the case.

Cuy added the Department of the Interior and Local Government is ready to extend further assistance to families of the victims.

He said Resorts World management is arranging the compensation package for the victims of the attack.

Vice President Leni Robredo expressed sadness over the incident, which she described as tragic.

“To those who lost their loved ones, not just in Resorts World but also the families of the soldiers who were killed in battle, we send our sincerest condolences,” she said.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez also expressed condolences to his colleague, Pampanga Rep. Gonzales, whose wife Elizabeth Panlilio was among the 37 who died of suffocation. 

Quezon City Rep. Alfred VargasSocial Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said they have deployed social workers to conduct hospital visits and facilitate the medical needs of the injured and their families in the attack. – With Alexis Romero, Rainier Allan Ronda, Helen Flores, Perseus Echeminada, Delon Porcalla