Alleged Pastor slay mastermind a ‘racing aficionado’

MANILA, Philippines - Who is Domingo “Sandy” de Guzman III? 

Not much has been said about the background of the man, accused of stealing Ferdinand “Enzo” Pastor’s widow and ordering the car racer’s death. 

Before his implication in the murder case that hogged the headlines this past week, De Guzman had no official criminal records, at least based on data that the police have so far. 

Born on Aug. 15, 1974 in Manila, the alleged mastermind of the sensational ambush case also moved around the racing circuit – a profile of the 40-year-old suspect lists drag racing as his “principal amusement.” 

A source told The STAR that the three – De Guzman, Pastor and Pastor’s widow Daliah – once belonged to the same group.

“They used to go out in groups together. They were friends,” the source said in an interview. 

Before his arrest last Tuesday, De Guzman operated a car shop with a partner. The shop, Unique Autowerkers Co., is located in Sto. Niño Village, Muntinlupa City.  De Guzman reportedly has a house in BF Homes Parañaque. 

The company was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in June 2009.

Same man?

Initial investigation by authorities showed that the name “Sandy de Guzman” figured in cases of “threat,” “carnapping,” and “murder,” based on records of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). 

But while Sandy is the known nickname of De Guzman, it was not clear whether it was the same De Guzman who was mentioned in these cases investigated by the NBI.

A certification from the Office of the Clerk of Court of the Metropolitan Trial Court of Parañaque stated that there was no civil or criminal case filed against the name Sandy de Guzman. 

Even the Parañaque City prosecutor certified that there has been no criminal complaint filed against a person whose name is Sandy de Guzman, based on its record from May 2004 to present.

A certification from the Office of the Clerk of Court of the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court showed that based on records from June 12, 1988 to July 1 this year, there was no criminal case field against the person whose name is Sandy de Guzman.

Confessed gunman Police Officer 2 Edgar Angel of the Pasay police claimed he was tapped by De Guzman, who is a godfather to one of his daughters, to execute the ambush in exchange for P100,000.

Dismissal

Angel will undergo summary dismissal proceedings, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Carmelo Valmoria said yesterday.

He said Angel, even if he is in jail, will continue receiving his salary until he is finally dismissed from the police service. Angel has been reassigned to the NCRPO’s Regional Police Holding Administrative Unit.

Valmoria directed the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division (RIDMD) to conduct a pre-charge investigation against Angel using the documents prepared by the Quezon City Police District in the filing of murder charges against him and De Guzman.