FILE PHOTO (davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte denied reports that his wife, city councilor January Duterte was among those who were trapped during the attack at the Resorts World Manila Friday dawn.
In a statement Saturday, the Vice Mayor clariified, “I would like to correct reports indicating that my wife, Councilor January Duterte, was among those who were trapped at the Resorts World Manila when the unfortunate attack happened.”
He said he was with his wife and their children in Davao City when the incident occurred. He also said his wife is not a gambler.
“I even received a text from Mr Rafael Alunan, who asked for confirmation. I believe Mr Alunan has also mentioned this in one of his television interviews. For the information of the public, there is no truth to these reports,” he stressed.
Duterte said his wife could have been mistaken for his ex-wife, Lovelie Sangkola Sumera.
He said he and Sumera had been separated for 13 years already.
Thirty seven people including the gunman died during the attack. The police found victims in second floor of the establishment who died due to suffocation and smoke after the still unidentified attacker set ablaze the casino floor.
Investigators later found the lone gunman burned himself and shot himself in the head. Philippine National Police Chief Ronald Dela Rosa said the incident was not a terror attack. He said the claim of the ISIS that they were responsible for the attack is only propaganda. (davaotoday.com)
