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[av_heading heading=’ Security protocol review sought after Resorts World attack’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
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Tuesday, June 6, 2017
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MANILA – A lawmaker called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to review security and emergency protocols with hotels, malls, arenas, and similar establishments to prevent a repeat of the attack on Resorts World Manila.
“The Resorts World tragedy should serve as an eye opener for the PNP, BFP and these business establishments to take a serious look at their security measures and readiness to handle emergency situations such as a fire,” Rep. Winston Castelo (Quezon City) said in a statement on Monday.
That one man managed to bring inside a first-class hotel a high-powered firearm and gallons of gasoline to set fire to furniture was “a serious breach of security,” said the chairman of the House committee on Metro Manila development.
Armed with an M-4 rifle, the lone gunman — later identified as 42-year-old former Finance department employee Jessie Carlos — barged into the luxury casino hotel early on June 2 and shot indiscriminately, causing panic among guests.
Carlos also set fire to gaming tables and stole P113 million worth of casino chips, which were later recovered. Authorities later found him burned beyond recognition in a fifth-floor room.
At least 37 hotel guests and employees died of suffocation during the fire while at least 78 were injured and brought to various hospitals, police said.
Based on eyewitness accounts and videos from guests, the hotel personnel were not prepared to handle a fire emergency situation, leading to “panic, stampede, suffocation, and deaths,” said Castelo.
“Did the hotel have an emergency evacuation plan in case of fire? Who were in charge? Was it carried out?” he said. “It would do well for the PNP to work closely with agencies providing security services to these businesses to tighten security and establish clear protocols without causing too much public inconvenience.” (PNA)
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