German hotel exec gunned down in Makati — police

(Updated 1:30 p.m.) An unidentified assailant shot dead a German hotel official in Makati City's Central Business District on Thursday morning, police said. Interviewed by GMANews.TV by phone, Southern Police district head Chief Superintendent Jose Arne delos Santos said a gunman clad in a jacket shot Sergio Mazza just after he left a bakery along Dela Rosa corner Perea Streets. "We are still conducting a thorough investigation on the incident," Delos Santos said. Mazza, who lives at the Shang Grand Tower that is within the vicinity of the scene of the crime, was the executive assistant manager of Makati Shangri-La Hotel's food and beverage section. He was on his way to work when he was gunned down. It was earlier reported that Mazza was an Italian, but Delos Santos clarified that he was German. Mazza's body was already brought to a funeral parlor, an earlier radio dzBB report said. Meanwhile, the management of Makati Shangri-La said it is working closely with police authorities who are conducting the investigation. "We are extremely saddened by this loss and would like to express our sincerest condolences to his family... We are confident that the police will make all the facts known at the appropriate time and in accordance with the prevailing regulations," said the hotel's Communications department in an e-mailed statement to GMANews.TV. — RSJ, GMANews.TV