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[av_heading heading=’ Resorts World attacker ‘indebted casino addict’’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Monday, June 5, 2017
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MANILA – Police identified on Sunday the attacker at Resorts World Manila as a former Department of Finance employee and casino addict deep in debt.
Jessie Javier Carlos, 42, was a Filipino — contrary to reports that the attacker was foreigner — and not connected with any terrorist group, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Oscar Albayalde told a news conference.
His parents positively identified Carlos after Resorts World released on Saturday a closed-circuit television camera footage of the Friday incident, Albayalde said.
“We reiterate our prior statements that the Resorts World Manila attack is not an act of terrorism,” said Albayalde. “This incident is confined to the act of one man alone as we have always said.”
He added: “We hope to have brought closure and peace to the bereaved family. We will not allow people or any threat group to use this situation to advance their propaganda or personal causes.”
Carlos used to work at the Finance department’s One-Stop Shop Interagency Tax Credit and Duty Drawback Center, Albayalde said.
In 2014 the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed Carlos from office for mis-declarations in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth.
The attacker was also a father of three but got separated from his wife, Jen, due to his casino addiction problem. He was also deep in debt and had even sold his Ford Ranger, according to the police.
“High-roller siya,” Albayalde said. “His minimum bet is usually P40,000 kaya siya nalulong nang nalulong sa sugal. He has a bank account with an outstanding debt of P4 million and several other non-bank-related debt.”
“Iyong addiction niya sa casino rin ang dahilan kaya nagkaproblema siya sa pamilya niya,” Albayalde added. “Last April ipina-ban siya sa Pagcor (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.) sa lahat ng casino at the request of his relatives.”
‘EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED’
Carlos went berserk at Resorts World Manila early Friday morning, and shot and set fire to casino tables, and stole casino chips. He later set himself on fire inside a hotel room.
Authorities said 38 people were found dead inside the casino, primarily in the VIP room, due to suffocation, while 54 others were injuries after jumping from windows to escape.
Over Radyo ng Bayan, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella — citing information from the NCRPO — said Carlos lived in Santa Cruz district and owned a preschool.
“We like to put the worries of the general public to rest para hindi po sila mabahala kaya po minadaling mailabas ito para hindi na po naliligalig ang mga tao na that this could be some form of terrorist attack. Hindi po,” Abella said. “This (was) a criminal act perpetrated by an emotionally disturbed individual.” (With Prince Golez/PN)
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