HDO out vs suspected brains of Enzo Pastor slay

MANILA, Philippines — A Quezon City court has issued a hold-departure order against businessman Sandy de Guzman, the alleged mastermind in the killing of international racing champion Enzo Pastor.

In an order dated Oct. 2, Judge Luisito Cortez of the Regional Trial Court Branch 85 said “the court finds it necessary to issue a hold-departure order to prevent the accused from fleeing beyond the jurisdiction of the court.”

The order noted that the warrant of arrest issued on Aug. 5 against De Guzman has not been served and the accused has been able to remain at large.

Pastor’s parents on Sept. 18 offered a bounty of P1 million for the arrest of De Guzman and Enzo’s widow Dalia Guerrero-Pastor, who is accused of conspiring with De Guzman and the alleged gunman PO2 Edgar Angel.

An arrest warrant and HDO were earlier issued against Dalia Pastor, while Angel is under custody.

The prosecution’s Aug. 18 motion for the issuance of the HDO noted that De Guzman had the financial means to maintain a comfortable lifestyle abroad.

The defense argued that the claim that De Guzman was a flight risk was baseless and unsubstantiated.

The court ordered the Bureau of Immigration to place De Guzman on hold departure until further order from the court.

Enzo Pastor was ambushed in June 2014 at an intersection in Quezon City while on his way to a racing competition in Pampanga. SFM