Teen faces trafficking case for baby’s kidnap

MANILA, Philippines - A 15-year-old girl is facing child trafficking charges for allegedly kidnapping a two-month-old infant from her family’s home in Parañaque City.

The teenager from Norzagaray, Bulacan told police she was ordered to snatch the baby girl, Justin delos Santos, in exchange for P2,500. She neither revealed who told her to do it nor where she was supposed to take the baby, though she admitted the baby was the second one she snatched.

The baby’s mother, Manilyn, said the door of their home in Seaside, Tambo was unlocked because her husband would usually arrive just before midnight. Manilyn had fallen asleep and did not notice the girl come in and take the baby from her crib Wednesday night.  

From Parañaque, the teenager took the bus bound for Fairview. Another passenger, a midwife, noticed the baby crying. She told the girl to feed the baby but the girl said she did not have any milk with her.

The midwife grew suspicious of the girl’s answer and asked the bus driver and conductor to take the girl to a police station in Quezon City at past midnight Thursday.

The baby was returned to her parents at around 7 a.m. Thursday while the teenager was taken to the Parañaque City police, who took over the case. – Aie Balagtas See, Reinir Padua