MANILA, Philippines–The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has formed a seven-man investigating team to focus on the murder of racing champion Ferdinand “Enzo” Pastor, who was shot dead while driving at a Quezon City intersection last week.
The special task group will be headed by Senior Supt. Procopio Lipana, QCPD deputy district director for operations, according to QCPD director Chief Supt. Richard Albano.
“The task group will be in charge of the entire investigation for the information of our district director and the higher-ups in Camp Crame. This is done especially for high-profile cases,” said Senior Insp. Maricar Taqueban, QCPD spokesperson.
Serving as deputy chief of the task group is Supt. Ariel Capucao, the Talipapa station commander who has jurisdiction over the area where Pastor was killed. The other members are Supt. Rodrigo Bauto Jr., intelligence chief; and Supt. Michael Macapagal, chief of the investigation and detective management division.
Pastor was driving a truck carrying a race car on his way to Clark, Pampanga province, Thursday night last week when a masked gunman shot him after he stopped at a red light at the intersection of Congressional and Visayas Avenues. His helper, Paulo Salazar, was also wounded in the attack.
The killing prompted Interior Secretary Mar Roxas to order the Philippine National Police to form special investigation teams to look into such high-profile cases, including the murder of hotel chain owner Richard King in Davao City.–Julie M. Aurelio