THE 37 victims of the attack on Resorts World Manila suffocated to death just a few meters from the fire exit, which could have taken them to safety had they been able to reach it to escape the burning casino complex, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Tuesday.
He said the lack of directional signs might have made it difficult for the victims to escape the thick smoke engulfing the casino.
“The places where the 37 died”•the comfort room and the high-rollers’ room”•if they had gone straight ahead they would have found the exit,” Aguirre said citing information from the Southern Police District.
Footage from the hotel and casino’s security cameras showed the gunman entering the gaming area, torching the gaming tables and slot machines and stealing gambling chips before committing suicide on the fifth floor of the hotel.
Aguirre made his statement even as the Philippine National Police stressed the need for Resorts World Manila to enhance its security’s communication system as it failed during last week’s attack inside the posh hotel-casino that ended in the death of the 37 victims.
“It’s their communication system which they really have to review because the frequencies are separate,” said Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino, head of the PNP Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies.
He said the tragedy could have been avoided if there had been a clear communication between the security personnel inside the casino and those monitoring the closed circuit televisions.
Meanwhile, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Danilo Lim will meet members of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines to discuss security in their establishments in light of the incident at Resorts World Manila.
“We will be coordinating with the security administrators for some target-hardening measures that may be employed,” said Lim, a former Army general.
Most of the fatalities in Friday’s attack died from suffocation and smoke inhalation after the gunman Jessie Carlos fired shots at the ceiling and burned gaming tables before attempting to steal P113 million worth of casino chips.
A Resorts World Manila security chief earlier said the casino’s sprinkler systems were activated during the fire and that there was proper ventilation in the building.