MANILA - “Patay na yung anak namin pero hanggang ngayon ‘di pa nila binababa yung bangkay.”

(My child's dead but until now, they haven't brought down the body.)

This was the cry of a grieving father as he waited to see the remains of his child killed in the shooting rampage and fire perpetrated by a gunman at Resorts World Manila in Pasay City early Friday morning.

Gil Yongco, father of Hazel Ann Yongco, was crying out of grief and anger because authorities were taking a long time to produce his daughter's body. Hazel Ann was a supervisor in Resorts World Manila.

Yongco said someone told him that Hazel Ann died this morning. He arrived at Resorts World at 8 a.m.

“Alas-8 [ng umaga] pa lang sinabi nang patay na yung anak namin, hanggang ngayon hindi pa binababa yung bangkay. Nakikiusap na kami. Ayaw pa nila ibaba yung bangkay ng mga anak namin,” he said.

The inconsolable father said he cannot understand why it is taking too long to bring the bodies out of the casino premises given that the attack happened hours ago.

Thirty-seven bodies, including the gunman who killed himself, were found by firemen in the casino complex. Most of the bodies were found at the 2nd floor of the building.

The management of the casino, however, has not yet released the names of the victims pending the findings of the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO).

Searching for a possible explanation, the grieving father could not seem to grasp why authorities are taking too long to bring out the bodies. He argued that the casualties most probably have IDs with them in their pockets for identification.

“Naghihintay kami. Alas-8 pa lang alam ko na… Patay na yung anak namin pero bakit di pa nila maibaba? Ginagawa nila kaming t*ng*,” he said.

Another woman, who lost her husband to the attack, was crying as she faced reporters while waiting for the remains of her loved one.

“Para kaming nanghuhula. Ang asawa ko…,” she said.

A female employee, Maricel Navarro, who also faced reporters said she was on a break when the attack happened, and bewailed that authorities allegedly did not heed her advice.

She said she spoke with some members of the Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) team last night when smoke was already coming out of the building. She said she advised them to open a door at a specific area, knowing that people were probably trapped inside.

"Earlier sinabi ko na possible na locked ang pintuan. Sinabi ko sa grupo ng SWAT yun. Sabi nila hindi sila makapasok sobrang kapal ng usok, e bakit di nila buksan pinto? Kaibigan ko andun mga kasama ko," she said.

“Sinabi ko na sa area na ‘to…Bakit? Bakit ‘di nila binuksan ang pinto? May tao dun, naka-duty ako,” she cried. --with a report from Carolyn Bonquin