Warrant, hold departure order out for suspects in Enzo slay

MANILA, Philippines - A Quezon City court yesterday issued a warrant for the arrest of a businessman tagged in the killing of international racer Enzo Pastor.

Judge Luisito Cortez of Regional Trial Court Branch 85 also issued a hold departure order against Pastor’s widow, Dahlia Guerrero-Pastor.

In a 15-page order, Cortez denied the motion for judicial determination of probable cause and suspension of proceedings filed by Domingo “Sandy” de Guzman III. 

In his motion, De Guzman said there was no evidence presented before the Department of Justice (DOJ) that would make him liable for Pastor’s murder. 

De Guzman said the alleged gunman, Police Officer 2 Edgar Angel, has retracted his earlier confession implicating him and Dahlia in the killing of Pastor on June 12, 2014. 

The judge, however, found probable cause to issue a warrant for De Guzman’s arrest.

No bail was recommended for the businessman.

Cortez dismissed Dahlia’s petition to defer the proceedings of the case filed against her.

The widow of the slain racer, who has yet to surface after she was linked to the crime, argued through her lawyer that the only evidence against her was the recanted confession of Angel.

During yesterday’s court proceedings, Jesus Fernandez, lawyer for Angel, cross-examined Paolo Salazar, the witness who was with Pastor when he was shot dead in Quezon City last year.

Fernandez said it was impossible for Salazar to identify the gunman as he was wearing a mask when the incident happened. 

Tracker team

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) will create a tracker team that will hunt down De Guzman after the court issued a warrant for his arrest.

Chief Inspector Rodel Marcelo, QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit head, said they would launch a massive manhunt for the suspect.

Marcelo said De Guzman is still in the country.

He urged De Guzman to surface. – With Robertzon Ramirez