THE Justice department on Sunday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a parallel probe into the attack at Resorts World Manila on Friday that left 38 people dead including the gunman.
“The NBI has actually started the investigation already,” Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said in a text message.
He made the statement even as Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said the Philippine Games and Amusement Corp. should make sure there’s a counseling program available to gambling addicts and those whose lives have been destroyed by gambling.
“This should be implemented by Pagcor and all with casino franchises,” Pimentel said following the attack at the upscale hotel in Pasay City.
The attacker had brought a carbine and gasoline to the casino, set fire to some areas and then locked himself in a room, set himself on fire and then shot himself. He was later identified as Jessie Carlos, a former tax specialist at the Finance department.
Rep. Johnny Pimentel on Sunday appealed for tougher gun control measures following the deadly attack on June 2.
“In the interest of public safety, we really need stronger gun control measures, said Pimentel, a member of the House committee on national defense and security.
“While Carlos may not have used his firearm to kill people, he did use the weapon to try to raid the casino cashier’s cage and to sow mayhem that took a lot of innocent lives.”
Aguirre said the NBI probe was independent of the investigation being conducted by the Philippine National Police.
“There are several questions that remain unanswered and the NBI hopes to help in providing answers,” he said.
“I have instructed the NBI to look into all possible angles including terrorism.”
Among the issues raised during the incident were the identity of the attacker and his motive: Whether it was a robbery or a terror attack.
The PNP has already downplayed the possibility that the incident was a terror attack even after the terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria owned up to it in its website.
The police said it was a case of robbery as the suspect stole some P113 million worth of VIP casino chips before setting casino tables on fire using a bottle of gasoline, pointing out that he did not shoot any of the casino guests and staff. With Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja
