Man held as Philippines probes deadly gun rampage

MANILA (AFP) - 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 killed by police, went house to house on Friday looking for neighbours to shoot at a slum 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 Generoso Cerbo said.

"We are investigating the level of his involvement, but definitely he faces criminal charges," Chief Superintendent Cerbo said of the alleged accomplice.