Supreme Court reinstates warrant, hold departure order vs Enzo Pastor's wife

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has reinstated the warrant of arrest and hold departure order against Dalia Pastor in connection with the 2014 murder of her husband, race car driver Ferdinand "Enzo" Pastor.

In a 43-page decision promulgated on Feb. 26, 2024, the high court upheld the prosecution's finding of probable cause against Dalia, overturning the Court of Appeals' earlier dismissal of the parricide charges against her.

According to the court, there is "ample evidence on record" clearly identifying Dalia as a co-conspirator of the killing.

Aside from Dalia evading the court’s jurisdiction, the Supreme Court noted instances — citing witness testimonies — that she met and planned with Police Officer II Edgar Angel, the alleged gunman, and Domingo De Guzman III, her co-conspirator in the murder.

"Dalia's acts…show that she not only served as a strong motivation to carry out the plan, but also had an active hand in planning the ambush of Enzo. Furthermore, her abrupt flight after the issuance of a warrant of arrest lends credence to the prosecution's case that she is probably guilty of the offense charged," the court's decision read.

"The right of the accused to be presumed innocent is not violated by the mere finding of probable cause. As stated, probable cause does not equate to a conviction. In the face of multiple claims and given the severity of the offense, resulting in Enzo's death, the ends of justice are better served by allowing the trial court to determine the truth through a full-blown trial," it added.

The case dates back to June 2014, when Enzo was tragically shot and killed while driving a truck to Clark, Pampanga, accompanied by his mechanic, Paolo Salazar.

As they stopped at the intersection of Visayas Avenue and Congressional Avenue in Quezon City, an assailant approached the driver's side and opened fire, fatally wounding Enzo.

Following the incident, the prosecution identified Angel as the gunman, while De Guzman and Dalia were charged as masterminds behind the plot. Angel and De Guzman were apprehended, but Dalia remained at large.

Another individual, Alvin Nidua, a self-confessed gun-for-hire, testified that he was offered the job