Aquino says ‘strong lead’ in Enzo Pastor murder case; police cautious

After the murder case of Ferdinand “Enzo” Pastor was mentioned by President Benigno Aquino III in his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, police have become extra careful in divulging leads on the case. The President assured that justice for Pastor is already underway, noting that ‎authorities are “currently following a strong lead” in the murder case.

In the SONA, Aquino said, “This past June, we had a succession of high-profile killings. We have already arrested some of those involved in the murders of Mayor Ernesto Balolong and businessman Richard King, and are currently following a strong lead in the murder case of race car driver Ferdinand Pastor. Rest assured: we are seeking justice for all, and not just for a few. This is why, on top of the arrests we have already made, we continue to gather evidence against other suspects. We will hold to account all those who have committed wrongdoing.”

“We cannot disclose anything right now until such time so as not to jeopardize the filing of charges (against the suspects),” National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Police Director Carmelo Valmoria told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview.

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Pastor, who had just come from a racing competition in Batangas, was shot by a masked gunman on a motorcycle at a Quezon City intersection last June 12.

Prior to the Sona, INQUIRER.net also sought the comment of Quezon City Police District (QCPD) spokesperson Senior Inspector Maricar Taqueban who said: “We already have leads but we can’t reveal it as of now as it would pre-empt our investigation.”

“But the higher-ups had information already, we cannot just release it right now,” Taqueban said in Filipino.

Asked if the motive behind the murder was related to Pastor’s profession as a car racer, the police spokesperson just said “we cannot answer that yet.”

Days after his killing, the QCPD formed a seven-man investigating team to focus on the murder of Pastor.

The case 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.

Last week, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte offered P1-million bounty for the capture of the suspects.

Duterte claimed he is a friend of the slain racer’s father.

With report by Julliane Love De Jesus