House sets probe on casino rampage

MANILA, Philippines - Two committees of the House of Representatives will start tomorrow their inquiry on the circumstances behind the rampage of a lone gunman who torched the Resorts World Manila casino, suffocating and killing 37 people in the process.

The House committee on games and amusement headed by Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting and the committee on Metro Manila development chaired by Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo would hold the joint probe at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal III conference hall in Pasay City, just across Resorts World Manila.

It is aimed at preventing another incident from happening again.

“We will determine the lapses in security of the officers manning the hotel, alleged failure of hotel smoke detectors and sprinkler system and the locked fire exits,” Castelo said.

Among the fatalities were Elizabeth Panlilio Mendoza, wife of incumbent Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., and Cliff Reynera, consultant of Malabon City Rep. Ricky Sandoval.

“We will investigate. It’s mind-boggling how a man can bring in a long firearm and gasoline just like that. The public deserves to know what really happened,” Tambunting said.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez is unconvinced that the incident is a case of a mentally deranged attacker and not an act of terrorism.

“The ultimate consequence of the attack on Resorts World is an act of terrorism. Let us stick to the definition of terrorism. Anybody with premeditation harms and kills people indiscriminately is a terrorist. Whether or not the perpetrator is a member of a known terrorist organization or a lone wolf acting independently, he is a terrorist. This is happening all over the world,” the Davao del Norte congressman pointed out.

But for Malacañang, the Resorts World incident is already a “settled matter” with presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella saying the action of gunman Jessie Javier Carlos “does not fall into the pattern of political terrorists.”

“As far as the Palace is concerned, it’s a settled matter. There is no need to go back and parse whether it was a terroristic act. Of course, the effect was it terrorized people. However, facts do point out that it was not the intention and it does not fall into the pattern of political terrorists,” Abella reasoned.

Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla agreed, saying the act did not have the telltale signs of terrorism.

“The death of so many was actually the unintended consequence of the action. And he (Carlos) did not plan it to be that way. It was clear in the video that he did not kill those he met along the way. He did not shoot them. He did not threaten anyone except the security forces he encountered,” Padilla said.

A total of 37 Resorts World employees and guests died of suffocation after Carlos burned baccarat tables and slot machines last Friday. Investigators said he was a former government tax specialist who was deep in debt because of gambling.

Abella assured the families of victims that justice would be served.

Some families, despite the Resort World’s promise of P1 million in cash assistance, are considering whether they would file criminal charges against the management.

Jojie Uy, mother-in-law of Rojie Uy who worked as VIP host at the casino, said the family is consulting lawyers on possible courses of action, considering the “lapses” noted during the incident. She called on other families to also consult their lawyers and work together if charges will be filed.

Uy said her grandchildren, aged 8 and 5 years old, are still asking about their mother. Rojie’s body, she claimed, could barely be recognized.

She said they are not after the financial assistance offered by Resorts World but “only want to ensure the future of the children.”

Resorts World Manila pledged an additional P50,000 on top of the P1 million offer it earlier gave.

SSS assistance

The Social Security System (SSS) yesterday said “victims and family members may file their claim applications in the two help desks set up in the funeral parlors where the victims were brought.”

The help desks at Veronica and Rizal funeral parlors were set up to immediately facilitate the claims of relatives, aside from assisting injured individuals still recuperating at the San Juan de Dios and Pasay City General hospitals.

Initially, SSS wanted to place the help desks at the Resorts World premises but the hotel is still on lockdown.

It had also coordinated with hotel management on the identities of 13 employees and 22 guests who died in the incident. The SSS wanted to conduct an investigation on the deaths, especially from the victims’ relatives who were not interviewed at the two funeral parlors. Resorts World is yet to identify two additional casualties.

To date, SSS is processing five funeral claim applications for the employees who died.

SSS said it immediately formed a special team to assist the victims and their families in filing and claiming their benefits under the state-run pension fund.

The Travellers International Hotel Group Inc. (TIHGI), operator of Resorts World Manila, suspended its operations in areas affected by the June 2 attack until authorities, including police and fire probers, have concluded their investigations.

It also decided to postpone its annual stockholders’ meeting, earlier scheduled for Friday, after the board decided that it would be insensitive to discuss financials and expansion plans as if it were just business as usual.

“The Board deemed it prudent to postpone the meeting originally scheduled on June 9, 2017 out of deference and sympathy to the families of the deceased and the injured from the tragic June 2 incident,” TIHGI said.

Resorts World Manila, it added, is also voluntarily suspending its operations in affected facilities until safety is certified by appropriate authorities. – With Alexis Romero, Robertzon Ramirez, Iris Gonzales, Catherine Talavera