The Supreme Court has revived the murder case of race car driver Ferdinand “Enzo” Pastor, who was liquidated in 2014 allegedly on orders of his wife and her alleged alleged lover.

In a decision written by Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, the SC’s Second Division reversed the Court of Appeals ruling that had dismissed the parricide charge against Dalia.

The High Court upheld the finding of probable cause in the case against Dalia. It also reinstated the arrest warrant and hold departure order against her and other co-conspirators who are still at-large.

Pastor, an accomplished international race car driver in Asian Formula 3 and Euro NASCAR races, , was driving a truck when ambushed by a lone gunman in Quezon City on July 12, 2014. His mechanic, Paolo Salazar, was wounded but survived.

The two victims were slowing down towards an intersection on Visayas Avenue when a lone gunman opened fire at the two victims.

Police investigation later pointed to Dalia and her alleged lover Domingo De Guzman III as the masterminds behind the murder.

Police Officer II Edgar Angel had been identified as the gunman.

While De Guzman and Angel were arrested, Dalia remained at-large when the charges were filed.

She subsequently challenged the charges against her in the CA, which ruled in her favor, dismissing the parricide charge for lack of probable cause.

The appellate court concluded that PO2 Angel failed to identify Dalia as the mastermind, and even if she was aware of the plot between PO2 Angel and De Guzman, this was insufficient to establish conspiracy.

However, the SC Second Division overturned this ruling, emphasizing that probable cause requires only evidence showing a likelihood that the crime was committed by the accused. It does not necessitate proof beyond reasonable doubt.

The Court determined that sufficient evidence pointed to Dalia's involvement as a co-conspirator in her husband's murder.

Testimonies from Enzo and Dalia’s househelp revealed an affair between Dalia and De Guzman.

PO2 Angel also stated that De Guzman showed him a picture of Dalia with bruises, claiming Enzo had beaten her, and subsequently offered PO2 Angel a contract to kill Enzo.

Additionally, gun-for-hire Alvin Nidua testified that Dalia and De Guzman offered him PHP200,000 to murder Enzo, though he declined, deeming the amount too low.

Salazar also testified that Dalia repeatedly called Enzo on the day of the ambush to track his location. Furthermore, Dalia remains a fugitive and has not submitted to the jurisdiction of the court.

The Court concluded that this body of evidence demonstrates Dalia’s active role in orchestrating the ambush. It further emphasized that a finding of probable cause does not infringe upon the accused's right to be presumed innocent.