Cops eye love affair in slay of German hotel executive

MANILA, Philippines - Authorities are zeroing on “love affair” as the main cause behind the slaying of a German working for the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City on Thursday.

Makati City police under Senior Superintendent Froilan Bonifacio told The STAR that based on the accounts they’ve gathered, victim Sergio Mazza seemed to have multiple relationships with women in a span of short time.

“We’re zeroing on that. He had lots of women and the investigation boils down on his personal life involving these affairs,” Bonifacio said. He, however, clarified that nothing is so sure yet about the investigation as they are still trying to corroborate the witnesses’ accounts.

Mazza, 38, was the assistant executive food and beverage manager of the hotel. He was reportedly killed by a lone gunman with a .22 caliber pistol at the corner of De la Rosa and Perea Streets in Makati City at about 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

A witness said the gunman used a waiting taxi cab as his escape vehicle, the police said.

Mazza’s co-workers at the hotel said the victim was very warm and friendly, according to Bonifacio, adding that based on their investigation the German did not have any enemies.

Police already ruled out robbery as the motive because Mazza’s belongings, including the P20,000 in his wallet and BlackBerry mobile phone, were untouched.