Police chief Ronald Dela Rosa on Friday blamed "lapses in security" for the rampage of a lone gunman in the Resorts World Manila entertainment complex.

"Nakapasok, nakapagdala ng Armalite, dapat nakipag barilan na ang mga guwardiya," Dela Rosa told reporters.

The police chief reminded the management of public establishments such as malls and hotels to stop containing incidents to themselves in a bid to save face.

"'Pag nakakita kayo ng gunman, tawag kayo agad ng police. 'Yung ibang hotel kasi gusto pagtakpan sarili nila, gusto nila sila-sila lang," Dela Rosa said.

The gunman fired shots, torched casino tables, and ransacked the casino's chip storage before setting himself on fire in one of the Maxims Hotel's rooms.

At least 54 were hurt in the incident. Police ruled out terrorism as the motive behind the incident.