MANILA, Philippines - A Quezon City judge has shelved the cases filed against the alleged masterminds in the killing of international car racer Enzo Pastor due to the failure of law enforcement officers to arrest the suspect.
Regional Trial Court Branch 85 Judge Luisito Cortez archived the parricide case against Pastor’s widow, Dahlia Guerrero-Pastor, and the murder case against businessman Domingo “Sandy” de Guzman due to lack of juridisction as they have yet to be arrested by authorities.
The cases will be revived upon the arrest of the suspects, a court employee said.
Guerrero-Pastor and De Guzman, both subjects of arrest warrants earlier issued by the court, were accused of masterminding the racer’s murder on June 12, 2014 in Quezon City.
They were initially tagged by alleged gunman, Police Officer 2 Edgar Angel, as those who supposedly planned the crime.
Angel, who is currently detained, later recanted his confession.
Cortez has affirmed the issuance of arrest warrants against Guerrero-Pastor and De Guzman and issued hold departure orders against them.
The two evaded arrest despite the manhunt initiated by the police, with some reports saying Pastor’s widow has fled the country. She is in the Interpol’s red notice list.
The camp of Guerrero-Pastor has sought the intervention of the Court of Appeals, seeking the recall of the arrest warrant.
De Guzman’s lawyers have also questioned the issuance of the arrest warrant against their client.
Meanwhile, the case against Angel will proceed as scheduled.
The court is currently hearing the bail petition filed by the alleged gunman.