Man beats wife's would-be rapist to death

MANILA, Philippines – A man bludgeoned to death with a lead pipe a neighbor who broke into his Quezon City home and allegedly tried to rape his wife Sunday night.

The would-be rapist was identified as Samuel Delantar, 43, a steelman.

Chief Inspector Benjamin Elenzano Jr., deputy chief of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU), said Delantar died on the spot from injuries in the head and body.

Igmidio Bautista, a security guard, repeatedly hit Delantar after the latter broke into his home in Barangay Pansol and allegedly tried to rape his wife, Aileen.

A witness said it was actually the second of two attempts. Last Sept. 4, Aileen allegedly was roused from sleep and found Delantar beside her on the bed and holding her in a tight embrace. It was not clear how Delantar gained entry but he allegedly warned Aileen not to tell anyone.

Aileen told police she did not tell her husband about the first incident for fear of what her husband might do.

Bautista, who sustained stab wounds in the chest and left thigh inflicted by Delantar during the attack, is recovering from his injuries at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center.

Police said Delantar entered the Bautistas’ home at around 7 p.m. Sunday night. As Delantar grabbed Aileen, she shouted for help, catching the attention of her husband, who was then talking with a neighbor, Fernando Placer, outside their house.

Bautista rushed to her rescue but was met by Delantar, who stabbed him. Aileen then threw a lead pipe, which her husband grabbed and used to hit Delantar repeatedly.

After Delantar fell unconscious, Aileen and Placer rushed Igmidio to the hospital. Elenzano said it appears that Bautista had no intent to kill.

“What was clear was he and his wife were attacked and their life endangered. He had to defend himself and his wife. I believe that under our system, Bautista may eventually be absolved by the courts,” Elenzano told The STAR yesterday.