PNP rules out terrorism as gunman found to be ex-DOF employee

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police on Sunday said the gunman in an attack on a casino in Pasay City early Friday morning was a former employee of the Department of Finance discharged for misdeclaring his assets and liabilities.

At a press conference, Director Oscar Albayalde, National Capital Region Police Office chief, identified the lone gunman in the Resorts World Manila attack as 43-year-old Jessie Carlos of Sta. Cruz, Manila. He clarified that Carlos is a Filipino. Earlier reports had described the gunman as "foreign looking"

According to Albayalde, Carlos was in debt and was also estranged from his wife. The authorities said financial trouble could have triggered him to launch the robbery and shooting.

The NCRPO chief said that Carlos lived under the same roof as his wife despite their troubled relationship. He also said that Carlos was addicted to gambling.

“Highroller ito. His minimum bet is usually P40,000 kaya siya nalulong ng nalulong,” Albayalde said.

Albalyalde also revealed that another motive for the attack might have been revenge against the casinos. He said that Carlos was not a regular at Resorts World Manila but often gambled at other casinos. 

“Ito lang, recently April 2017, he was barred by PAGCOR from all casinos at the request of next of kin... Kaya siguro galit siya sa casino. Kapag papasok siya doon, kilala na siya,” Albayalde said.

Despite that, it took authorities two days to identify Carlos.

During the press conference, Albayalde showed security footage proving Carlos bought about three liters of gasoline in San Lazaro, Manila, where he also hailed a cab. Carlos used the gasoline to set casino tables — and, later, himself — on fire.

Albayalde said the authorities traced Carlos' movements through the help of the taxi driver who brought him to the casino.

In 2014, the Office of the Ombudsman found Carlos, then with the One-Stop Shop Inter-agency Tax Credit and Duty Drawback Center, guilty of grave misconduct and neglect of duty for not declaring his house and lot in Manila in his SALNs from 2003 to 2006, his Toyota Innova SUV in his 2007 SALN, and his business interest in his 2010 SALN.

He was ordered dismissed from the service and had his retirement benefits forfeited.

“With respect to respondent’s liabilities, noticeable is that his credit card liabilities in the amounts of P600,000 and P4 million, respectively, remained dormant for several years, with the latter loan increased to P5 million in 2010. Noteworthy to mention is the fact that  notwithstanding the huge credit he incurred, he was not deterred from obtaining another vehicle in 2010, a Hyundai Starex van worth P1.6 million," the Office of the Ombudsman said.

READ: DOF tax specialist fired for not declaring assets

Parents confirm Carlos' identity

Fernando and Teodora Carlos, Jessie's parents, also faced the media and confirmed that their son was the gunman in the casino attack. Fernando also confirmed his son had financial woes, but denied that he had mental health issues.

Other family members, including the gunman's widow, also faced the media.  She, however, refused to speak to reporters.

“Nakikiramay na lang po kami... humihingi po kami ng patawad sa mga namatayan po, kumbaga po sa ano aksidente lang din po ito… Patawad na lang po,” Fernando said.

Teodora, for her part , as also sorry for all the lives lost, including her son's. She said the incident is a warning against gambling addiction. 

“Sa mga magulang po na may nalululong sa sugal, awatin po ninyo ang anak ninyo…’Di po namin matanggap na ang anak naming nalulong at [maraming] nadamay…Humihingi po ako ng tawad sa inyo,” Teodora said.

‘Not terror attack’

Albayalde ruled out terrorism once more and said the incident was a robbery as police have been insisting despite claims made by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria that it was behind the attack.

“Yes. Case closed na siya,” Albayalde said.

He clarified, however,  that Resorts World Manila management is still under investigation for possible security and safety lapses. 

At least 37 were dead suffocating in smoke and more than 50 were injured after the gambling tables of the posh entertainment complex was set ablaze last Friday midnight.

Aside from the police, the Palace and the Department of National Defense had said that the attack did not seem to be consistent with a terror attack.

Despite that, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said that it was “a clear example of a ‘lone wolf’ terrorist attack targeting civilians to inflict maximum loss of life and damage to property, as what has happened in other countries.” He did not explain his conclusion.