Metro Manila residents urged: Remain calm, vigilant

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday called on residents of Metro Manila to remain calm and trust authorities who are working to ensure the safety and security of the public following the Resorts World Manila (RWM) incident in Pasay City that many thought was a terrorist attack.

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said Metro Manila residents could rest assured that the military, police and other law enforcement agencies would protect the people in the wake of the country’s current crisis in Marawi City caused by the Maute group that prompted President Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao.

“The Armed Forces conveys its assurance to the public that the Resorts World incident did not indicate terrorist activity,” Padilla stressed.

“The reason for this singular person’s violent (act) may have been the cause of other motivations or whatever reason,” he added.

After initial police investigation, it turned out that the lone gunman at RWM was believed to be mentally unstable.

The AFP said such incidents should not cause panic and the people should be more responsible in sharing unverified information. 

“Hence, we call on everyone to remain calm, be responsible social media users and not spread alarmist messages that actually hamper the security of Manila that may generate overreaction on the part of the public, that may unduly incite the public to overreact,” Padilla said.

Martial law is currently being implemented in the whole of Mindanao as military and police forces are trying to defeat the Maute group in Marawi City.

Remain vigilant

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

He said questions remained on the circumstances that resulted in the death of 38 persons, “particularly the gunman’s entry into the casino complex where a mass of people gather.”

“The question of how the suspect was able to bring a high-powered rifle and incendiaries into a supposedly tightly secured leisure area frequented by locals and tourists is totally beyond me,” he said.

An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday said that the public should remain vigilant. 

CBCP Public Affairs Committee (PAC) executive secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano believes that the shooting and fire incident at the RWM was not a case of rebellion.

“Things have not been the same as far as peace and order in the country is concerned,” Secillano said.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle yesterday told priests to “include in our parish masses and holy hour devotion the victims of the conflict in Marawi and resorts World Manila, their families and the safety of our communities” starting yesterday until Pentecost Sunday tomorrow.

He also condoled with the kin of the victims.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) said the RWM incident was an isolated case and not an act of terrorism.

“The unfortunate incident that happened in Resorts World Manila early Friday is an isolated case of random violence and was caused by a foreign-looking man who appeared to be deranged,” Pagcor said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) expressed optimism that the incident would not shake up the country’s economy.

“It’s just been explained as an isolated criminal robbery rather than terrorism,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said.

NEDA Undersecretary for regional development Adoracion Navarro said the impact of the incident on investors’ confidence is “too early to tell.”

Senators condoled yesterday with the families of the victims of the attack at the RWM and demanded an explanation from the hotel owners as to why the deranged gunman was able to slip past security.

“My heartfelt condolences to the family of those who perished during the Resorts World incident. This is very tragic,” Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito tweeted.

Sen. Grace Poe said she was enraged by the attack and vowed to push the executive branch to ensure speedy assistance and justice for the victims and their families.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said the attack “looks like a criminal incident not related to any invasion rebellion or even terrorism.” – With Evelyn Macairan, Mary Grace Padin, Helen Flores, Jess Diaz, Paolo Romero, Robertzon Ramirez