Phill News Entertainment – Phill News
MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has reinstated the arrest warrant and deportation order against Dalia Pastor in connection with the 2014 murder of her husband, racing driver Ferdinand “Enzo” Pastor.
In a 43-page decision released on February 26, 2024, the Supreme Court affirmed the prosecution’s finding that reasonable suspicion existed against Dalia and overturned the earlier dismissal of the patricide charge against her by the Appeals Court.
According to the court, “sufficient evidence is in the custody” that clearly shows that Dalia was an accomplice to the murder.
In addition to finding that Dalia evaded the jurisdiction of the court, the Supreme Court cited the testimony of witnesses and found that she conspired with the alleged shooter, Police Officer II, Edgar Angel, and co-conspirator in the murder, Domingo de Guzman III, who met and made plans.
“Daria’s actions … show that she not only had a strong motive to carry out the plan but also that she was actively involved in planning the ambush attack against Enzo. “Furthermore, her sudden flight after the issuance of the arrest warrant lends credence to the prosecution’s argument that she is more likely than not guilty of the crimes charged,” the court’s decision stated.
“The right of the accused to be considered innocent is not violated by the mere finding of reasonable suspicion. As already stated, sufficient suspicion is not the same as guilt. “Given the multiple charges and the gravity of the crimes that led to Enzo’s death, the ends of justice are better served by allowing the court to determine the truth through a comprehensive trial,” it added.
What happened before
The incident dates back to June 2014, when Enzo was tragically shot dead while driving a truck to Clark, Pampanga with his mechanic, Paolo Salazar.
As they stopped at the intersection of Visayas and Congressional Avenues in Quezon City, assailants approached the driver’s side and opened fire, fatally wounding Enzo.
After the incident, prosecutors identified Angel as the shooter, while De Guzman and Dalia were charged as masterminds of the conspiracy. Angel and De Guzman were arrested, but Dalia remains at large.
Another man who identified himself as a hitman, Alvin Nidua, said he was offered the job to kill Enzo but turned it down. Nidua alleged that Dalia and de Guzman had discussed the conspiracy.
In March 2015, the Regional Court denied Dalia’s request to dismiss the charges, after which the court issued an arrest warrant for her. Dalia appealed to the Court of Appeals, asking that the charges be dropped.
The Court of Appeals ruled in her favor, citing a lack of probable cause and that Angel had not specifically identified Dalia as the mastermind of the murder plot. The Court of Appeals also held that knowledge of Angel and de Guzman’s conspiracy was not enough to prove a conspiracy.
Where is Dalia now?
In 2015, Enzo Pastor’s father, Tomas, claimed that Dalia had purchased a driver’s license in Recto under the name Amanda, moved to Indonesia, and lived there under the name “Amanda Cruz”.
She has reportedly remarried and is now known as Amanda Maragit.
As a result, in 2016, Enzo Pastor’s parents sought the assistance of then-President Rodrigo Duterte and former Indonesian President Joko Widodo to arrest Dalia for changing her facial features and identity. Dalia was placed on Interpol’s watch list in April 2015.
Pastor’s family seeks DILG’s help in finding fugitive wife
In a message to Philstar.com, Thomas expressed his gratitude for the court’s decision. “We are very grateful for the final decision that there is sufficient suspicion. Hence, the arrest warrant and departure order are reinstated,” Thomas said. In a separate statement, the pastor’s family said they were “deeply saddened” by the court’s decision and said it was a step closer to justice. “We are grateful that the Supreme Court found sufficient evidence against Enzo’s wife, Pastor Dalia Guerrero, and her co-conspirators for their involvement in the murder and murder of Enzo,” the family said. The family said the ruling came after 10 years of suffering since losing Enzo in a 2014 shooting in Quezon City.
“It’s been a long and painful decade since Enzo’s tragic death and not a day goes by that we don’t mourn him,” they said.
The family contacted the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to cite the department’s successful collaboration with Interpol in the arrest of former Bambang Mayor Alice Guo in Indonesia.
“With the continued efforts of the DILG, we believe that Dalia will also be arrested and brought back to the Philippines to face trial,” the pastor’s family said..
