Warrant vs suspects in Enzo slay on hold

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City courts handling the cases filed in connection with the killing of international race car driver Ferdinand “Enzo” Pastor have deferred the issuance of arrest warrants for the suspects.

Judge Luisito Cortez of Regional Trial Court Branch 85 did not issue a warrant for the arrest of businessman Domingo “Sandy” de Guzman during yesterday’s hearing pending resolution of a motion for judicial determination of probable cause filed by the suspect.

The issuance of an arrest warrant for Pastor’s widow, Dahlia Guerrero-Pastor, was likewise held as Judge Lita Tolentino-Genilo of Regional Trial Court Branch 91 has yet to rule on the motion to dismiss that she filed.

De Guzman and Dahlia are facing murder and parricide charges, respectively for Pastor’s killing on June 12, 2014 at the corner of Congressional and Visayas Avenues in Quezon City.

Cortez gave the parties involved in the case some time to file their respective comments in a number of pending motions.

The camp of De Guzman is questioning the motion to admit amended information that included the businessman in the murder case.

The defense, including the counsel of alleged gunman Police Officer 2 Edgar Angel, is expected to comment on the motion for consolidation filed by the Department of Justice.

In a one-page motion, assistant state prosecutor Susan Villanueva sought the consolidation of the murder cases against De Guzman and Angel with the parricide charge against Dahlia.

“The prosecution will be presenting common evidence in these cases,” said the prosecutor.

The next hearing is on May 19.