At least 34 bodies found in hotel hours after attack

June 2, 2017

At least 34 bodies were found by authorities in a hotel on Friday morning, nearly 12 hours after a gunman opened fire at the casino and set billiard tables on fire in a case police called as a robbery. Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Catalino Cuy confirmed the tally and added 19 were hospitalized. The Southern Police District earlier announced the casualty figures on radio. Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, speaking on television, said these people died of smoke inhalation. The Philippine National Police ruled out terrorism and said the gunman, whom police found dead early morning, acted on his own in staging the attack at ResortsWorld Manila close to midnight Thursday. “He burnt himself to death,” said National Capital Region Police Director Oscar Albayalde in an interview at ANC of the still unnamed gunman, described as a Caucasian. The gunman first shot at display board, set a billard table on fire, and then the door containing poker chips where he carted away an estimated P130 million worth. “This is not a terrorist act because he did not shoot at people,” said PNP Director General Ronald Dela Rosa. DMS