Judge's driver dies in QC carjacking

MANILA, Philippines - Two men killed a Pasay City judge’s driver when they took his employer’s sport utility vehicle (SUV) in front of the judge’s house in Barangay Tandang Sora, Quezon City yesterday morning.

Inspector Elmer Monsalve, who heads the Quezon City Police District’s homicide investigation section, said Marlon Quiocho, 33, family driver of Judge Racquelen Vasquez, died on the spot during the 5:30 a.m. attack.

Monsalve said the victim sustained a gunshot wound in the head, one in the shoulder and another in the abdomen.

The two carjackers took a black 2010 Mitsubishi Montero Sport (NGP-591) registered under the judge’s husband, Raul Vasquez.

Monsalve said the carjackers were armed with .45 caliber handguns, based on slugs and shells recovered from the scene.

“The suspects seemed to know the routine of the driver. They were seen waiting for the Montero Sport,” Monsalve said.

“It could be that the suspects had established a pattern in the routine of the driver,” he added, noting that there was no account that the carjackers arrived in another vehicle.

Monsalve said the carjackers might have conducted a stakeout on foot.

Quiocho had reportedly driven the judge to the airport, then returned to Quezon City to pick up the couple’s children and bring them to school.

The driver had just gotten out of the SUV when the carjackers approached him. Quiocho was shot when he refused to let go of the car keys when one of the carjackers made a grab for them, Monsalve said.