Police have identified the gunman who attacked Resorts World Manila as Jessie Javier Carlos, a 43-year-old former employee of the Department of Finance (DOF). They said his family has confirmed his identity as well.
According to the police, Carlos, a resident of Felix Huertas Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila, reportedly had a collective debt of more than P4 million.
"National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief director Oscar Albayalde sat alongside Carlos' parents and widow at the press conference held to announce the identity of the attacker," reports Non Alquitran in The Philippine Star.
Albayalde was quoted as saying, "This incident is confined to the act of one man alone as we have always said. We have and will continue to base our pronouncements on facts and evidence properly gathered. We will not allow people or any threat group to use this situation to advance their propaganda or personal causes whether foreign or local."
The report further revealed that the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) had actually banned Carlos from playing in all casinos in April. PAGCOR issued the order following a request from the family. They said Carlos had a gambling addiction.
Carlos had attacked Resorts World Manila casino in the early hours of June 2. He had "an M4 automatic rifle and a bottle of gasoline."
The report noted: "Carlos set fire to some gaming tables and slot machines, as well as linen, along a hallway of a hotel in the Resorts World Manila complex. Carlos was later found dead in a hotel room after her reportedly committed suicide by setting himself ablaze."
The fire that Carlos started also took the lives of 37 people.
There are still some lingering questions about the tragic Resorts World Manila incident. For one, Albayalde had said that Carlos had a gunshot wound on his head.
Albayalde says Resorts World attacker doused himself in gas, set himself on fire, then shot himself. He had a gunshot wound to the head
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) June 2, 2017
Dir. Oscar Albayalde, NCRPO chief: Meron siyang gunshot wound sa head and he was really burned. https://t.co/CaqsfpAhw6
— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) June 2, 2017