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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA and RESEL JOY TIANERO
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Saturday, June 3, 2017
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ILOILO City – A gunman’s rampage at Resorts World Manila in Pasay City prompted business establishments here to tighten their security measures.
The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) pressed them to conduct exercises simulating a similar incident, bombing and other forms of terrorist attack.
“The Resorts World incident should not happen here,” said Happy Abenir, president of the Iloilo Hotels Restaurants and Resorts Association (IHRRA).
IHRRA has around 70 member hotels, resorts and restaurants.
While security is a prime concern of IHRAA, Abenir clarified that Iloilo remains peaceful.
“Tourists enjoy their stay here,” she said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) ruled out the incident as a terrorist attack but a robbery at the posh casino, hotel and entertainment complex.
Abenir said their group will meet to plan better security measures.
One IHRRA member, the Amigo Terrace Hotel & Mall on Delgado Street, hosts a satellite of Casino Filipino operated by the state-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
Security was tight at the satellite casino yesterday. A photojournalist wanting to take photos was told by a security officer to first file a written request.
Presence of mind is important, said Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, spokesperson of the PRO-6. He particularly called the attention of the business establishments’ security personnel. In the Resorts World incident, the gunman easily slipped through the scrutiny of the security personnel.
“Fire and earthquake drills are not enough. There should be exercises, too, on other emergency scenarios such as shootings and bombings,” said Gorero.
People patronizing business establishments must familiarize themselves, too, of the emergency exits, he stressed.
“Dapat kabalo sila sa diin ang pinakamadali nila nga agyan,” said Gorero.
IHRAA expressed its sympathies with those affected by the Resorts World incident.
“We condole with them. We are in the same industry,” said Abenir.
IHRAA considered the incident “isolated.”
“Indi man sia act of terrorism,” said Abenir.
Still, for their meeting IHRRA plans to invite security authorities.
They want to come up with additional security policies, said Abenir, “for the safety and security of all our members for the benefits of our clients.”
“We will invite all concerned agencies, those involved in the fight against illegal activities, drugs, terrorism and the like,” she said.
A total of 37 people – including the still unidentified gunman – died in the Resorts World incident while 54 others were injured.
The casualties were due to the stampede and suffocation after the gunman set casino gaming tables on fire.
The gunman eventually killed himself, the police said. He set himself on fire in room.
Investigators recovered a backpack where the gunman stacked the casino chips – worth several millions of pesos – he stole.
Yesterday morning, the PRO-6 checked the security measures of business establishments in the city though it stressed it had not monitored security threats.
Stressing the importance of vigilance, it put its men on full alert status following the clashes between government troops and the Maute terrorist group in Marawi City in Mindanao./PN
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