Kamayan purchaser killed over parking

"Bakit mo naman ako babarilin? (Why would you want to shoot me?)"

These were the last words uttered by Fernando Quinito, 33, a purchaser for the Kamayan Restaurant, before being shot and killed like a dog by a security guard over a parking dispute in Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City yesterday.

Suspect Sepriano Dominguez, 38, a security guard of the St. Paul Detective and Protection Agency and assigned at the El Greco Shipping and Manning Management Office on Scout Esguerra Street, ended Quinito’s life with a shotgun blast to the stomach and a caliber .38 bullet to the right temple. The shooting took place at the company’s parking lot around 11:30 a.m.

Another Kamayan employee, Valentino Lacbao, 29, said he was standing only at arm’s length from Quinito when the guard shot him at close range.

"Hayop talaga ang kriminal na ’yon (That criminal is an animal)," said Lacbao, 29, who works as a stockman for the restaurant owned by the Triple V company.

Lacbao told The STAR that he and Quinito, who also doubled as company driver, had just parked the Triple V delivery van (PSY-231) near the El Greco building and were about to cross the street to the Hi-Top supermarket when the security guard accosted them.

He said Dominguez berated the victim for parking the van without seeking his permission.

Quinto apologized, but this did not appease the guard, who went back inside the company compound. He returned a few moments later with a 12-gauge shotgun, and aimed it at Quinito.

When Quinito asked Dominguez why he was pointing his gun at him, the guard responded by firing the weapon. As the victim hit the concrete pavement, Dominguez pulled out his caliber .38 revolver from its holster, aimed at the victim’s right temple and fired.

The slain restaurant employee, father to three children, had been working for Kamayan for nine years.

Lacbao said everything happened in a flash. "Hindi ako nakagalaw kaagad (I froze)," he said, adding that he ran to the van and took cover, fearing for his life.

Fortunately, the suspect did not go after him.

Lacbao said the suspect acted like he was only shooting a stray dog. "Wala siyang awa (He was merciless)," said the stockman, shaking his head. As he spoke, he was visibly agitated, his body trembling from shock.

Inside El Greco, which also houses the Consulate of the Republic of Cyprus, employees mistook the shots for a terror attack.

"We thought a bomb had exploded," said an employee at the Cyprus consulate, who asked not to be named.

Employees said the security guard later barged inside the office, looking flustered.

Jonathan Tabio, El Greco legal officer, said Dominguez walked in and made a phone call to his superiors at the St. Paul’s agency.

"Nakadisgraya ako sir, (I killed someone, sir)," the lawyer heard the suspect informing his superiors over the phone. He said the security guard escaped through a door at the back of the building.