Resorts World gunman had no bad records in community –neighbors

The neighbors of Jessie Carlos, the man who attacked Resorts World Manila on the wee hours of Friday, are shocked upon learning that he was the man who stormed and torched the posh hotel casino, killing 37 people.

In a report by GMA News' Ivan Mayrina on 24 Oras on Monday, Barangay 399 chairman Egay Abrigo said Carlos was known in their neighborhood in Sta. Cruz, Manila, as a good person.

"Nabigla kami kahit na 'yung sa picture niya, maiisip mo siya pero isipin mo hindi dahil alam mabait na tao eh," Abrigo said.

He added that Carlos had no bad record in their barangay where he owns a daycare center.

The report said Carlos also had a fruit store in the Divisoria district and owns three motor vehicles.

A CCTV footage showed Carlos in a hurry when he arrived home around 10:18 p.m. on Thursday, the day before the attack. It also showed that he left the house an hour later carrying a backpack.

The footage was the last time Carlos was seen before proceeding to Resorts World Manila in Pasay City where he torched tables in the casino's gaming area and stole more then P100 million worth of chips.

Meanwhile, Carlo's neighbors in the street where he grew up -- Lallana Street in Tondo, Manila -- said they were also surprised by his actions.

Carlos' aunt, Elizabeth Soriano, said her nephew never had personal feuds in their community since his childhood.

"Mabait po talaga 'yun, wala naman po talagang problema. Bata pa lang dito na siya mabait talaga kahit makipag away hindi po," Soriano said.

Edna Esguerra, for her part, said she only knows about Carlo's addiction to cock fighting and not casino gambling. "Ang alam ko lang sabong, 'di namin alam yung mga casino."

Police earlier said Carlos, a dismissed Department of Finance employee, was hooked to gambling and had a debt of at least P4 million. 

Police also said Carlos was once assigned at the DOF's One Stop Shop Tax Credit and Duty Drawback Center and was dismissed because of an issue on his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/KBK, GMA News