Man nabbed for alleged rape of stepdaughter, illegal firearms

MANILA, Philippines — A 47-year-old man was arrested at his house for allegedly raping his stepdaughter twice and for owning several illegal firearms, the Pasay City Police Station said on Black Saturday.

The suspect, identified as Rowel Santiago, reportedly raped his minor stepdaughter during the Holy Week — at 8 a.m. on Palm Sunday, April 14, and at 10:00 p.m. on Maundy Thursday, in their house.

The girl’s mother reported the incidents to police.

The arrest was made by officers of the of Special Weapons and Tactics and the Pasay Station Investigation Division Management Branch (SIDMB) at the suspect’s home in Barangay 188, Zone 20, Pasay.

Officers seized from the house an unlicensed .38 Super pistol, an empty magazine, an M16 rifle, a black rifle bag, a firearm holster, a sniper scope without license, a .22-caliber rifle, two boxes of .38 Super ammunition, a box of fired cartridge cases of an 5.56-mm rifle, a box of fired cartridge cases of a .38 Super, and an M16 magazine.

Santiago was detained at SIDMB detention facility in Pasay and will face charges for violation of Anti-Rape Law, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition in relation to the Omnibus Election Code.

/atm