BEIJING -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Saturday expressed condolences to the relatives of the four Taiwanese who died in a casino rampage in the Philippines.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, said the mainland would offer assistance if it was needed.

Around midnight Thursday local time, a gunman set a Manila casino hotel on fire and killed himself following the chaos.

At least 37 bodies, including that of the attacker, were found inside the Resorts World Manila, according to Philippine police.