MANILA- “It was like hell.”
This was how groom-to-be Roscoe Fernandez described his and his siblings’ experience during the attack at the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City.
Fernandez was staying at a hotel in the area since he was supposed to get married Friday.
He said he and his siblings came from the casino at the 2nd floor and were on their way back to their room when they met running men.
“There was a commotion na but little did we know meron nang ano, a guy who was wearing a bonnet, a Kevlar vest. I couldn’t determine what kind of rifle the guy was using,” he said.
“I saw him exactly. We were a few meters away from the gunman,” he added.
Fernandez said he did not see anyone accompanying the gunman. The suspect was also only firing upwards and was not shooting anyone, but still caused panic.
“Wala ako nakita na kasama pero he was ano discriminately firing upwards eh but he wasn't shooting anyone so nataranta kami so we went to the fire exits,” Fernandez said.
Police already ruled out terrorism as a motive for the attack while Resorts World Manila has dispelled rumors that there was more than one gunman.
Fernandez said he did not see any security guard going after the gunman and was not aware where the guards were.
Out of fear, Fernandez ran to the fire exit and went straight to the basement where he hid for more than an hour.
Resorts World Manila on Friday said there were 35 fatalities from the attack. Of this figure, 13 were employees of the casino while 22 others were guests. Authorities later raised the toll to 38 dead.
Stephen Reilly, chief operating officer of the casino, also confirmed that a member of the casino’s security team shot and wounded the gunman.
The suspect, who also torched casino tables, hid in a hotel room where he committed suicide.-- report from Doris Bigornia, ABS-CBN News
source: news.abs-cbn.com
MANILA - Malacanang on Friday emphasized that the incident
in Resorts World Manila in Pasay City was not terror-related, even as
reports showed a terrorist group already claimed responsibility for the
attack.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, citing information
from law enforcement agencies, said there were no indications that what
took place in Resorts World Manila was a “terroristic activity.”
Abella said the “emotionally disturbed” perpetrator did not
carry out a terror attack and that there were no indications that he
wanted to harm or shoot anyone.
At least 36 bodies
were found in two floors of the casino complex, following an attack by a
supposedly lone heavily-armed suspect, who later committed suicide. The
suspect was stil unidentified.
Most of them suffocated due to the thick smoke from the burning casino tables torched by the suspect, authorities said.
At least 54 others were brought to nearby hospitals after sustaining injuries, officials said.
The presidential spokesperson also dismissed insinuations that the attack was linked to the ongoing crisis in Marawi City, where the Maute Group, which has pledged allegiance but has yet to get recognition from Islamic State, led a siege.
Abella also noted that apart from the attacker who set himself on fire, only one other individual - a security guard - sustained a gunshot wound after accidentally shooting himself.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
Motorists were advised to avoid passing along areas near the Resorts World Manila entertainment complex in Pasay City as some roads are still closed to traffic, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Friday.
"Manlunas St. is closed to traffic due to due to the ongoing investigation at Remington, Maxims, and Marriott Hotel," The MMDA said in a statement.
"Motorists may take Sucat Road or Edsa instead of Andrews Ave to avoid traffic congestion in the Resorts World vicinity," the MMDA's announcement read.
The route of the Pasig River Ferry system was also cut short due to the incident in the resort casino.
"Malacanang Restricted Area has been closed to all vessels today due to red alert owing to Resorts World incident last night. Ferry service for today will only be PUP to Pinagbuhatan back and forth," the Pasig River Ferry's management said in a statement.
At least 34 people died
from apparent suffocation while 54 other sustained minor injuries after
a lone gunman fired shots and torched casino tables inside the
entertainment center.
The assailant committed suicide by setting himself on fire while locked up inside a room at the Maxims Hotel.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
