(Soldiers wait to enter Resorts World Manila on June 2, 2017. Photo credits: AFP/Vincent Go)
Some armed men wearing masks reportedly attacked Resorts World Manila in Pasay City.
This was the initial report from witnesses at past 1 am on Friday.
Employees and hotel guests who scampered out of the resort and casino building said they saw the some armed men wearing black.
Then they heard gun shots and explosions.
Some pieces of furniture were also reportedly torched.
Staffmembers had also seen wounded victims being brought out of the establishment.
Hotel guests were running out, many screaming in panic.
One casino player narrated that gun shots rang out from the second floor of the building for about half an hour.
He also heard loud explosions.
The commotion broke out 15 minutes before midnight on Thursday.
Witnesses related their experiences on radio at past 1 am Friday.
At that time, some persons were believed to be still trapped inside Resorts World.
At least 8 ambulances were seen going in and out of the hotel.
Smoke was billowing from the establishment.
Roads near the site of the incident were closed to motorists.
Philippine National Police-National Capital Region (PNP-NCR) Chief Oscar Albayalde immediately arrived at the Resorts World.
He did not give an initial statement.
Witnesses said, members of the PNP Special Weapons and Tactics (PNP-SWAT) had entered the building.
At 3:55 am, PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa told mediamen in Resorts World that the attack was staged by a lone gunman.
The suspect was allegedly carrying a liter of gasoline and had set on fire some items inside the casino.
'Iisang tao lang," Dela Rosa said.
The suspect allegedly did not hurt anybody although he fired his gun several times.
He had allegedly stole some chips in the casino.
The PNP Chief described the attacker to be about six-feet tall and 'foreign-looking.'
Robbery is being seen as the motive.
"Me instances na me foreigners na nasiraan ng ulo dahil natalo sa gambling," Dela Rosa said.
The gunman only supposedly fired at the stockroom of the casino where chips were stored.
The injuries some victims sustained were due to the stampede, he said.
"The injuries were minor," he added.
The chips stolen by the suspect were allegedly worth a million pesos.
The attacker supposedly hid in at least two rooms at the fifth floor.
These rooms had been cleared.
As of 4 am, police were searching for the gunman.
Authorities saw him on CCTV cameras when he removed his mask.
Dela Rosa said, witnesses may have initially mistaken the policemen from the special forces entering Resorts World as the gunmen.
He ruled out terrorism as motive for the incident.
The resort and casino remain on lockdown as of four in the morning.
