Bank exec falls to death in Manila

A bank official fell to his death from the 31st floor of a building in Malate, Manila, Friday morning, police said.

The fatality was identified as Atty. Marcial Bitancor, 52, head of Landbank Agrarian Operation Center in Legazpi City.

Investigators said Bitancor’s body was found at the pool area on the 9th floor.

Bitancor, who was clad in white shirt and brown pants, sustained severe head injuries, with his upper and lower extremities dislocated, police said.

Investigation showed that Bitancor was billeted with four others at unit 31H on the 31st floor of the building on Thursday.

They were in Manila for a land title seminar.

The following day at 7:45 a.m., the fatality’s four colleagues went to the conference venue on the 26th floor.

One of Bitancor’s colleagues, Fabian Jacob, said that at around 8:29 a.m., he went back to their room but did not see Bitancor.

Thinking that Bitancor was only sleeping inside the other bedroom, Jacob went back to the conference room where he learned that someone fell from the building.

He sought assitance to unlock the other room, but failed to locate Bitancor, who he later found out was the one who fell to his death.

Further investigation is underway to determine whether or not foul play was involved.