Families of victims to get P1 M each – RW
The management of Resorts World Manila (RWM) will give P1 million to each of the families of the casualties in the attack at the casino that killed 38 people early Friday morning, RWM chief operating officer Stephen Reilly announced yesterday afternoon.
“On top of the funeral and burial assistance that Resorts World Manila will shoulder, we are extending P1 million to each of the families of the deceased. With this financial assistance, we hope that we will be able to somehow help each family hurdle through their needs during this most difficult time,” he said.
Reilly did not say if the company would provide financial assistance to the injured victims who are confined in different hospitals, although he previously said the company would provide assistance “to all the victims
of the attack.”
The Newport Mall at Resorts World Manila will also remain closed for seven days.
In a statement yesterday, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls announced the temporary closure to “pay our respects to the casualties of the recent tragic incident.”
Megaworld Lifestyle Malls also said they are working hard to restore normalcy at the place. Facilities at the casino complex will undergo renovation as soon as possible.
Resorts World Manila chief operating officer Stephen Reilly said management is doing everything to extend assistance to the families of the deceased victims.
“This is also a very difficult time for all of us here in Resorts World Manila. We consider our guests, patrons and our employees as family,” an emotional Reilly said.
According to initial investigation, the gunman stormed the hotel past midnight and fired shots in the air. The gunman did not shoot at people and was only after cash or casino chips. Police said it could be a botched robbery.
Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said the suspect stole P113 million worth of gaming chips, dismissing reports that it was related to terrorism.
Complaints bombard funeral homes
Relatives of the victims trooped to the Veronica Memorial Chapel and Rizal Funeral Homes in Pasay City, where most of casualties were brought around 4 p.m. on Friday.
At least 18 bodies were brought to the Veronica Memorial Chapel and 16 cadavers were sent to the Rizal Funeral Homes.
Relatives of the victims complained about the funeral homes for allegedly mistreating and not releasing the bodies of their loved ones.
Jojie Uy, whose daughterin-law Rojie died in the attack at the casino, said Veronica Memorial Chapel has no freezer and other facilities to preserve the corpses.
Uy complained that the Veronica Memorial Chapel mistreated the body of Rojie, a VIP host of the casino, as her corpse is already beyond recognition.
“Pinabayaan nila ang mga patay. Andun lahat ng mga bangkay, mabaho. Walang freezer at ang itsura ng mga bangkay, binaboy nila (They neglected the corpses. The corpses are stinking. There is no freezer and the corpses look awful),” Uy told reporters yesterday.
Uy also complained that the funeral home refused to release the body of her daughter-in-law even though the management of Resorts World Manila agreed to give the body to the family.
“Yung apo ko, noong sinabi namin na mommy wala na, ano po ipapakita ko? Wala ang nanay niya tapos ngayon parang hindi na siya (We already told our grandchild that her mother is dead, what will I show her? The mother is gone and her corpse does not look like her),” she said.
Relatives of other victims expressed the same sentiments, but they refused to give their names as they fear the funeral home will not release the bodies of their loved ones.
Mandy Restriviral, general manager of Veronica Memorial Chapel, denied that the funeral home mistreated the bodies and lacks facilities to preserve the corpses. –