A man accused of helping a Philippine gunman kill seven people and wound 12 others has been detained as police investigate the motive for the drug-fuelled rampage, officials said on Saturday.
Witnesses told police the arrested suspect helped reload a semi-automatic pistol as the gunman, later shot dead by police, went house to house in search of people to attack at a slum neighbourhood in Kawit town outside Manila.
Police arrested John Paul Lopez in Imus town near Kawit late on Friday, hours after gunman Rolando Bae was killed in a firefight with police, national police spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo said.
“We are investigating the level of his involvement, but definitely he faces criminal charges,” Cerbo said of the alleged accomplice.
Lopez said Bae forced him at gunpoint to load the clip of the .45-calibre pistol between the shootings, Cerbo said.
“If that is proven false, he would be charged with many murders,” Cerbo added.