MANILA, Philippines – The father of Dalia Guerrero Pastor, wife of slain car racing champion Ferdinand “Enzo” Pastor, said he believed that his daughter was innocent and that “she had nothing to gain” from his death.
“Dalia has everything to lose and nothing to gain by plotting to kill her husband,” said Xavier Guerrero, as he read in between sobs from a prepared statement to the media at the Department of Justice Tuesday.
Guerrero appeared before the DOJ during the first preliminary investigation on the parricide case against his daughter.
He recalled how his daughter and her husband struggled to make both ends meet when they got married and lived in the US.
He said that when his son-in-law and his father ventured into the car racing business, it grew as well as Pastor’s career as a racer.
He said his grandkids age six and nine were also God’s gift to the couple.
“Her life with her husband was getting better in their eight years of marriage, the most important of all are the children. They are God’s gift to Dalia and Enzo,” he said.
“The accusation to Dalia would be beyond reasonable doubt unreasonable,” he added.
However, the elder Guerrero declined to comment when asked if his daughter was a battered wife, adding that what they have are ordinary “marriage problems.”
He said he was taking care of the couple’s two children and of their education and didn’t know where Dalia was right now.
His daughter did not appear during the preliminary investigation but was only represented by lawyer Ruy Rondain.
Rondain said the last time they had contact with Dalia was two weeks ago when she spoke to her parents telling them she felt being harassed because of the media frenzy over the case.
Enzo Pastor’s father, Thomas, said Dalia last showed herself to the family during the commemoration of the 40th day of his death.
Dalia, through her lawyer, and businessman Domingo “Sandy” De Guzman III, through his lawyer Dennis Manalo, sought additional time to submit their counter affidavits following the retraction of alleged gunman Police Officer 2 Edgar Angel.
“We were in the process of preparing his counter-affidavit when we were informed of yesterday’s (Monday) retraction. This major development made me decide to advice my client to defer the filing of counter-affidavit,” Manalo told the panel of prosecutors.
He said Angel’s retraction has left his client in a dilemma.
“The purpose of my manifestation is because I’m at a loss as to what to respond with,” he added.
His claim was echoed by Rondain who said that with Angel’s retraction there was effectively no case against his client.
“I am also at a loss like Mr. Manalo. I cannot see how the case against my client will proceed. Now that it’s gone (referring to the recantation) there is no case against her,” he said.
Villanueva said they have until October 6 to file their respective counter-affidavits.
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