Pastor widow to appear if cleared – lawyer

MANILA, Philippines - The widow of slain international race car driver Ferdinand “Enzo” Pastor will come out of hiding if she is acquitted of the parricide charge against her, her lawyer said yesterday.

Ruy Rondain, who filed his entry of appearance before the court, told reporters that his client, Dahlia Guerrero-Pastor, is “okay” but will only appear if “the case is dismissed.” She is the subject of an arrest warrant in connection with her husband’s murder.

He issued the statement a few minutes after the cross-examination of eyewitness Paolo Salazar at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 85.

Rondain was pressed by Edwardson Ong, who represents Pastor’s parents, to disclose Guerrero-Pastor’s whereabouts. He refused, saying it is his client’s decision not to appear before the court.

He added that the lawyers are presumed authorized by their clients to appear in a court hearing.

Leandro Mendoza II, another lawyer representing Pastor’s parents, said there is doubt if Guerrero-Pastor is still in the Philippines as she has yet to appear in court.

Rondain earlier said his client is still in the country and that he has been communicating with her “almost every day.”