DOJ orders NBI to conduct DNA examination on remains of Resorts World Manila gunman

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a DNA examination on the remains of the gunman in the Resorts World Manila attack last June 2.

Aguirre said he made the decision in order to erase doubts on the identity of Jessie Javier Carlos, whose family had reached out to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to confirm that he was the man in the security footage of the incident.

Carlos was also said to be addicted to casino gambling.

Previously, the police alleged the gunman was a foreigner and a Caucasian who appeared to stand six-foot tall.

Armed with a rifle, Carlos torched gaming tables and fired several shots at the Resorts World Manila's casino area before torching and shooting himself in one of the rooms of the hotel.

Thirty-seven guests and employees of the posh casino-hotel died in the incident, mostly due to suffocation.

Aguirre has ordered the NBI to conduct a parallel probe aimed at determining the possible criminal, civil, or administrative culpability of any agency or office of the government or owners, managers, and employees of Resorts World Manila.

"We need to know and to determine the responsibility and the liability, if any, of anyone which made possible the tragic events at Resorts World Manila. Whoever is responsible for allowing this tragedy to occur should be made accountable under our laws and before courts," Aguirre said in a statement on Sunday.

He said tragedies similar to the Resorts World attack should not be allowed happen again. — RSJ, GMA News