03 June, 2017
National police chief dela Rosa told the public: 'Don't panic, this is not a cause for alarm. The police have ruled out terrorism as the motive for the attack, CNN Philippines reported. The SITE Intel Group, which monitors jihadi activity worldwide, revealed that an ISIS operative in the Philippines had said that the group was responsible for the attack. The bag of gambling chips worth 113 million pesos ($226,000) was found in a toilet. Resorts World is a complex of hotels, casinos, shops and restaurants in Newport City, one of the most affluent districts of the Philippine capital.
A Muslim separatist rebellion in the southern Philippines has killed more than 120,000 people since the 1970s.
Resort owner Travellers International Hotel Group Inc released a statement saying that the authorities were still seeking details.
A Filipino operative for Islamic State (IS), in a quick communique, immediately took responsibility for the attack, but police cast doubt on any such links. But that was quickly rejected by National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, who said all the evidence pointed to an attempt to steal casino chips.
The unidentified suspect died after setting himself on fire, authorities said.
Dela Rosa said CCTV footage showed the gunman ignoring a security guard who tried to question him at the entrance to the complex.
Dela Rosa said the man, acting alone, walked into one of the gaming rooms and fired the rifle at a large TV, then poured gasoline onto a gambling table and set it alight.
He lay down on the bed, covered himself with a blanket, doused himself with petrol and set himself on fire, Mr dela Rosa said.
The police chief said 18 of 54 injured people were in hospital.
Stephen Reilly, the casino's chief operating officer, later said that 35 people had died - 13 employees and 22 guests - in what he described as a "senseless attack". "But I did not see what he did after that because I fled". They're also examining his auto which was left in the casino parking garage.
The attack sent hundreds of people fleeing through the complex and into the night. Dozens had minor injuries suffered during the stampede to escape the complex in Pasay City, just south of Manila.
Meanwhile, relatives of those believed to be dead are devastated as they wait for news. He added that he would not call them all dead as some could still be alive.
The chaotic scene in the Philippine capital was first feared to be a terrorist attack, perhaps related to ongoing fighting between the army and Islamist militants.
Ronald Romualdo, a Resorts World maintenance worker, said he and his colleagues heard gunshots and saw people smashing windows on the second and third floors to escape. "The deterioration in security in Mindanao has resulted in a more volatile security environment in the Philippines", the Australian foreign ministry said.
"One of the employees told me that the suspect began pouring the contents of (a) bottle on one of the tables and lit it on fire", Dones said. "I am very anxious as a parent, I need to find her", he said.
