OFW slain in QC; drinking buddy vanishes after attack

MANILA, Philippines – An overseas  worker who was home for the holidays was killed while on a nightout with friends shortly after midnight Friday in Quezon City.

Cesar Quitasol, 57, died on the spot after he was shot in the head by a lone assailant at an eatery on Military Road, Barangay Holy Spirit, police said.

Quitasol worked at a bank in the Middle East and arrived in the country earlier this month with his wife, according to Police Officer 2 Julius Raz of the Quezon City Police District. The couple were staying in Barangay Tandang Sora.

Prior to the shooting, he was out drinking with a female friend and a fellow balikbayan identified only as Bob. Raz said Bob disappeared right after the attack.

According to the victim’s family, Bob, a businessman also based in the Middle East, also came home recently and had asked Quitasol to join him for a few drinks.

The female friend told investigators that she, Bob and the victim were having a few rounds at the eatery when they decided to transfer to another place. They were about to board Quitasol’s Toyota Innova when Bob told them that he needed to buy cigarettes at a nearby store.

The woman said she was already in the vehicle when she heard a gunshot and saw the victim lying next to the vehicle.

The woman called out to Bob from across the street to ask for help but he never came back, Raz said.