Car thieves strike anew in Quezon City

The driver of a Pasay City Regional Trial Court judge was shot and killed when he refused to turn over a Mitsubishi Montero (NGP-591) to thieves at around 5:30 a.m. Friday in front of the vehicle owner’s house in Barangay Tandang Sora, Quezon City.

Insp. Elmer Monsalve, chief of the homicide investigation section of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), identified the victim as Marlon Quiocho, 33, who drove for the family of Pasay Judge Racquelen Vasquez.

Monsalve said Quiocho was shot three times in the head, the shoulder and in the abdomen. He died on the spot.

An investigation showed that the victim had just alighted from the sport utility vehicle (SUV) when the suspects suddenly appeared from nowhere.

According to the accounts of witnesses, three men armed with handguns quickly drove away with the SUV after shooting the driver.

Police found four empty slugs and two spent shells of .45 caliber bullets near the victim’s body.

Police said the suspects appeared to know Quiocho’s daily routine.

“They were seen waiting for the Montero,” said Monsalve.

The victim had just arrived at the judge’s house from the airport, where he brought a family member, to take his employer’s children to school.

Witnesses said a brief scuffle ensued after the victim refused to let go of the SUV’s key, until one of the suspects shot him thrice before taking off with the vehicle.