Ex-matinee idol accused of raping stepdaughter

A former matinee idol was arrested Sunday night in Parañaque City after his 14-year-old stepdaughter accused him of raping her and getting her pregnant.

Suspect Dennis da Silva, 29, was charged with violation of Republic Act 7610, or Child Abuse. His live-in partner, Marilyn Paz, 41, and mother of the victim, was charged with being an accessory to the crime.

Da Silva appeared in several hit teenybopper movies in the mid-eighties, and was a regular host in the defunct youth TV program, That’s Entertainment. Both suspects are now jobless, according to police records.

Investigation showed that Da Silva and Paz were arrested at around 10:55 p.m. at their house on Monte de Piedad Street, Jestra Villa, San Antonio Valley 5, Paranaque.

Records showed that the victim’s sister, Preciosa, 21, called for police assistance after a reportedly drunk Da Silva threatened the victim after she asked money to buy food.

At the police station, the victim told authorities that Da Silva had raped her several times since October last year.

Police said the victim is six-months pregnant.

She is now in the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Inquest prosecutor Oliver Hernandez said that during yesterday’s inquest, Da Silva claimed that he and the victim had been carrying an affair. Paz, on the other hand, sided with the former actor.

It was not clear, Hernandez said, why the victim did not immediately report the rape incidents to the police. The victim also admitted that the suspect has not touched her since July. "The victim appeared confused and scared of her mother," Hernandez added.

Hernandez said he has made a recommendation on the case and submitted it to the chief prosecutor for resolution.

"It’s now up to the city prosecutor if he will reverse or sustain my recommendation," Hernandez said.

Da Silva and Paz are detained at the Parañaque City jail.

Meanwhile, a 20-year-old man was hacked to death by two brothers and three unidentified persons Sunday near his house in Quezon City after a family feud with the latter.

Victim Victor Biazon, a carpenter, of Area 2-B, Talangay, Batasan Hills, sustained hack wounds in the head and body and died on the spot.

The suspects, Andy Bartoloy, 26, and his younger brother Luis, neighbors of the victim, escaped after the killing. They were armed with a jungle bolo and a fan knife. They were with three other companions at the time.

Investigators said that the Bartoloy family has a running feud with the Biazons after finding out that the victim’s, brother Roderick was allegedly courting Andy’s wife.

Victor Biazon apparently went out of his house at about 6 p.m. to buy something at the nearby store when the killers suddenly blocked his path and ganged up on him.

He was hacked and stabbed several times in the shoulder, chest and head. He collapsed on the ground died instantly. The suspects fled.

Investigators said the assailants might have killed the victim as "an example of their rage against the Biazon family." – Matthew Estabillo