NBI closing in on Pastor killers

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is closing in on the killers of international race car champion Ferdinand “Enzo” Pastor, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday.

“A parallel probe is being conducted by the NBI-Death Investigation Division. What I know is that the case is nearing solution,” she said.

She said the NBI will release the result of its investigation soon.

De Lima, however, did not go into details so as not to jeopardize the police operations against the suspects.

President Aquino mentioned in his State of the Nation Address Monday the case of Pastor.

Aquino said police are pursuing a good lead in their investigation.

The President vowed to bring the suspects to justice.

The NBI stepped into the case after the victim’s family sought the bureau’s help three days after the killing of Pastor.

NBI probers conducted a re-autopsy on the remains of Pastor and a reenactment of the incident.

The 31-year-old champion racer was shot dead by motorcycle-riding men in Quezon City last June 12.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has offered a P1-million reward to anyone who could give information that would lead to the arrest of the killers.

A friend of Pastor, Duterte had been following his achievements since he won the Asian Formula Renault in 2002.