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The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested a grandson of comedian Dolphy Quizon in Tondo, Manila early yesterday for being one of three suspects who allegedly beat up and killed a man celebrating his birthday last Dec. 4.

The NBI- National Capital Region (NCR), headed by Regional Director Ruel Lasala, served the warrant of arrest against Rowell Quizon, 24, a singer, shortly before 1 a.m. in a friend’s house in Tondo.

Quizon, with Marlon dela Cruz and a certain Phillip, allegedly attacked Jeffrey Vergara, 23, of Pilapil street in Tondo. Charges of murder, later downgraded to homicide, were lodged against them before a Manila City court.

NBI-NCR Executive Officer Rommel Vallejo said they received a request from the victim’s family for assistance to serve the warrant of arrest issued by Judge Ruben Reynaldo Roxas of the Manila City Regional Trial Court (MCRTC) Branch 12, last May 11.

NBI agents and Manila policemen arrested Quizon, who is currently detained at the NBI jail but would be allowed temporary liberty once he posts the P40,000 bail bond. Quizon has reportedly been involved in previous street fights in their area.

During yesterday’s press conference, Quizon said it was not his intention to kill Vergara and that it was done in “self defense.”

He also immediately informed his grandfather, Dolphy, about the incident. The suspect’s father is Freddie Quizon.

It appeared that Vergara had just turned 23 last Dec. 3 and that he and his friends were engaged in a drinking spree at around 1 a.m. of Dec. 4. They were already winding up the party when Quizon and his friends arrived.

The suspects reportedly approached Vergara and started beating him. Witnesses said one of the suspects hit the victim on the head with a bottle filled with beer and that during the attack, the victim’s head also reportedly hit the pavement, causing him to lose consciousness.

When Vergara woke up, he was not immediately taken to a doctor and thought that he was only drunk. He was allowed to sleep until that afternoon. It was only when he complained of having headaches when his family decided to bring him to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRMMC) in Sta. Cruz, Manila City. An autopsy report showed he died of multiple traumatic head injuries.

Quizon denied that they beat Vergara, insisting that it was a one-on-one fight. He claimed that they had just come from a videoke bar and walked past the victim’s house when an allegedly drunken Vergara challenged him to a fistfight.

“There were five of them and only three of us. When one of Vergara’s friends fired a gun, we scampered away. I did not hit him with a bottle on the head and am not aware if Vergara hit his head when I punched him,” Quizon said.

He also denied that he went into hiding, but the NBI said that he had been moving around Tondo, living with friends.

In November last year, 19-year-old Nicolo Paulo Quizon, reportedly a younger brother of the suspect, was arrested for allegedly killing a factory worker on Dec. 19, 2005.