Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17774403610752026042904044_85a6ee01eae486bb7c15130366ffa331a5036ec205fe5c6c0ba479ad1d493211 (9).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The family of a 51-year-old driver killed in Tuesday’s brazen shooting in Quezon City believes he was not the intended target and may have been caught in a deadly situation not meant for him. <em>Contributed via Michael Delizo, ABS-CBN News &amp; Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The family of a 51-year-old driver killed in Tuesday’s brazen shooting in Quezon City believes he was not the intended target and may have been caught in a deadly situation not meant for him.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/28/sasakyan-pinaulanan-ng-bala-sa-edsa-2-pasahero-sugatan-2223">Sasakyan pinaulanan ng bala sa EDSA; 2 pasahero patay</a></div><p>The victim, Norberto Orimaco, a 51-year-old father to an adopted child with a live-in partner, was fondly known as “Koykoy” in their modest compound in Cubao.</p><p>He was driving his employer, Caferno “Perry” Mariano, a 75-year-old figure in the billiards community, when two men on a motorcycle opened fire on their vehicle in broad daylight along the busy Timog Avenue.</p><p>His family and loved ones are reeling from the brutality of the attack.</p><p>“Napakasakit po,” said Maria Victoria Arenas, Orimaco’s close friend of nearly 30 years, who has long been considered part of the family in the compound where they both lived. She spoke on behalf of the family, which has requested privacy.</p><p>“Bakit siya? Ganon ‘yong mga tanong namin kasi hindi niya po talaga deserve,” she added through tears.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/29/2-victims-in-timog-avenue-shooting-incident-confirmed-dead-0037">2 victims in Timog Avenue shooting incident confirmed dead; police intensifies hunt for suspects</a></div><p>Arenas described Orimaco as someone who treated everyone like family—a brother to many and a godfather to countless children in their community.</p><p>“Hindi kami titigil. Kung ano ‘yong ma-exhaust naming resources para makuha namin ‘yong justice sa kanya kasi ganon siya sa lahat eh – hindi siya tumitigil para maibigay ‘yong pangangailangan naming lahat, sa family niya, sa anak niya.”</p><p>Orimaco had only recently returned to work as Mariano’s driver in February after a roughly four-year hiatus.</p><p>On the day of the attack, Arenas said he was not even supposed to be on duty.</p><p>“Hindi po siya dapat ang kasama po doon. Iba po ‘yong magmamaneho para kay sir,” she said. “Actually, pauwi na siya dapat dito para mag-break, para kumain kasi maghahapon na. Tapos ang resume ng pagbalik niya sa trabaho, mga 7 or 8 kasi ‘yon ‘yong oras sa billiards or whatsoever.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘GODFATHER OF PHILIPPINE BILLIARDS’<br/></strong></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177744012267220260428-timog-shooting-incident-MT9.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>📷 Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>Mariano’s family has yet to respond to requests for comment.</p><p>In a brief social media post, his son Hadley simply wrote: “Bye dad.”</p><p>Meanwhile, the billiards community has paid tribute to Mariano, describing him as a key figure who left a lasting legacy and calling him the “Godfather of Philippine Billiards.”</p><p>He was widely respected for founding Bugsy Promotions and Lucky Break, organizations focused on supporting young Filipino talents by providing sponsorships, salaries, and structured tournaments.</p><p>“Sobrang dami mong player na natulungan. Wala ako dito kung hindi dahil sa’yo,” said professional billiards player Michael Feliciano, a member of the Philippine team.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HRD5IPcDF0Y?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></strong></div>

<p>The family of a 51-year-old driver killed in Tuesday’s brazen shooting in Quezon City believes he was not the intended target and may have been caught in a deadly situation not meant for him.</p>

The family of a 51-year-old driver killed in Tuesday’s brazen shooting in Quezon City believes he was not the intended target and may have been caught in a deadly situation not meant for him.

Caught in the crossfire: Family believes slain driver was not intended target

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Caught in the crossfire: Family believes slain driver was not intended target

Michael Joe Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 29, 2026 01:26 PM PHT

Read More:

Perry Mariano

Quezon City

QCPD

shooting

crime

billiards

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.