German software firm executive shot dead

MANILA, Philippines – A German executive of a software company was shot dead yesterday morning by two gunmen in front of a residential building in Quezon City.

Police said Martin Kessler, 46, died on the spot due to multiple gunshot wounds he sustained from a handgun.

According to a police report, Kessler got out of his apartment unit at the LZL Apartelle around 5:45 a.m. and was on his way to his car, parked 50 meters away from the building.

The gunmen followed Kessler. One of the suspects pulled out a gun and shot Kessler in the head. When the victim fell, the two men approached the victim and shot him several more times. Witnesses said the suspects then walked away.

Authorities initially set aside robbery as a motive as the suspects reportedly did not get anything from the victim.

Police said Kessler and an American national own a software company operating in the Philippines, and the victim had recently fired six employees from the firm.

Investigators are checking if this report could be linked to Kessler’s death.