Murdered racing champion’s wife still in PH, says De Lima

Dalia Guerrero-Pastor

MANILA, Philippines–Justice Secretary Leila de Lima denied on Thursday reports that Dalia Guerrero-Pastor, who is accused of conspiring with her lover to kill her husband, racing champion Enzo Pastor, had left for Malaysia.

“Based on my initial query from the Bureau of Immigration (BI), [they said] their database as of yesterday [has] no such record of [her] departure,” De Lima said, adding that the bureau continued to verify the reports.

In a text message, the BI told reporters: “We’re still verifying records of all ports of entry. As of [Sept. 3], BI travel records show that Dalia is still in the country.”

According to De Lima, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) which is in charge of tracking down private and chartered flights will also advise the BI and the Department of Justice (DOJ) should Dalia’s name appear on a flight manifest.

“The CAAP [will] advise us if that happens. That is, unless she used a different name.  But so far, there’s no indication that Mrs. Pastor has already left,” she said.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima

Earlier, the DOJ issued an immigration lookout bulletin order against Dalia, her alleged lover businessman Domingo “Sandy” de Guzman III and self-confessed gunman PO2 Edgar Angel after they were charged with murdering Pastor. Angel had told the police that Dalia and De Guzman hired him to kill the racing champion for P100,000.

The three can still leave the country although they would have to ask the DOJ for permission and justify their departure.–With Tina G. Santos