Tuesday, October 28, 2008 ‘Boy George’ charged, slapped with five cases of child abuse
FIVE separate child-abuse related complaints were filed yesterday against the computer engineer earlier arrested over allegations that he sexually molested several teenage boys.
Atty. Maria Lourdes Vilbar, representing respondent Lewis Dacanay, said they will be answering the charges—two counts of rape, serious illegal detention, acts of lasciviousness, and child abuse—through a counter-affidavit to the Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor.
Assistant City Prosecutor Roy Carrillo gave Dacanay, whom the police initially referred to as “Boy George,” until Nov. 6 to submit his counter and present evidences.
He said the police have yet to file the announced sixth complaint of trafficking in persons for Dacanay’s alleged act of “meeting with a minor with the intent of a sexual act.”
“They can file that while the preliminary investigation on the other complaint is pending if they believe that they have evidence to support it,” he explained.
More complaints
This, as more minor victims are expected to execute affidavits and file criminal complaints against Dacanay and his possible accomplices.
Cebu City Councilor Gerardo Carillo said Luz Barangay Captain Nida Cabrera will bring the minors to his office to issue sworn statements on how “Boy George” abused them.
Around 10 will follow those who filed complaints, he added.
“Akong gi-awhag ang atong mga kaigsoonan sa laing mga barangay…nga may mga anak nga nabiktima pud aning Boy George nga modoul sa ilang mga barangay
officials, sa pulis o sa atong buhatan,” Carillo said.
He also asked the police to dig deeper into the case, believing that more are involved, particularly those with whom Boy George worked with in making pornographic materials and to whom he would send them.
Encounter
Attached to the complaint lodged by the Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB) of the Cebu City Police Office were the affidavits of Dacanay’s three alleged under-aged victims, all friends.
The three met Dacanay, 36, at popular hangouts for the young—a strip of bars along Salinas Drive and at a disco bar in the same area.
One said he met Dacanay in October of 2006 after the latter was introduced to him by a certain Kael.
He said Dacanay gave him lots of stuff, like shirts and shoes and, over time, managed to coax him to a motel where Dacanay tried to have homosexual sex with him.
It was not consummated because he wasn’t physically ready but Dacanay allegedly told him they’d try again later and suggested that he “practice” with his “fingers” first.
He said Dacanay gave him a mobile phone and kept in touch through it.
Their next encounter was in February of the following year when he was supposedly brought by the respondent to a hotel in Talamban.
They stayed there for four days, resulting in Dacanay supposedly succeeded in having anal intercourse with him.
Punched, slapped
The complainant said he saw Dacanay recently when he went to a hotel in Lahug to go swimming with friends.
Dacanay got angry that he brought people with him and allegedly punched and slapped him.
When he told Dacanay that he was going to the police, he allegedly threatened to kill his parents if he did.
The other complainant said he met Dacanay through the first complainant in November of 2007.
He alleged that Dacanay brought him to his condominium unit, molested him there and then photographed him for P500.
The third complainant said they met at a dance club while Dacanay was looking for the first complainant.
It was he whom Dacanay supposedly called to arrange for a meeting on the day that the latter was arrested.
Entrapment
Senior Insp. George Ylanan, IDMB chief, set up the entrapment after Cabrera reported to his office the alleged activities of the suspect.
The operatives started working on the case last Saturday and arranged for the entrapment after the suspect contacted one of the boys, in a chat session, to meet him Sunday. (KNR/RHM)
