Woman caught with baby in bag tells NBI she has 5 special kids

CHILD TRAFFICKING SUSPECT Jennifer Erin Talbot remains in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation following her arrest on Wednesday. —RICHARD A. REYES

The woman who tried to sneak out of the country a days-old baby in an oversized sling bag told authorities that she was a mother to five special children in the United States.

During a press briefing on Thursday, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said that Jennifer Erin Talbot, a 43-year-old native of Ohio, was charged in the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office.

She faces charges of child trafficking, kidnapping and violation of the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

Talbot was arrested on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 after she failed to present the necessary travel documents for the infant.

“There was some suspicion because she was a little fidgety,” said NBI deputy spokesperson Auralyn Pascual.

All that Talbot presented was a notarized affidavit identifying the baby’s mother, a single mother from Davao City. The unsigned affidavit supposedly said the baby was born on Aug. 29 at Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City.

Baby’s parents also charged

It was not known whether Talbot bought the baby from his parents who were also charged with violating the law against child abuse.

NBI-International Airport Investigation Division head Manny Dimaano said they believed Talbot went to the Philippines to take the child.

“She was saying that she wanted to give the baby a name and maybe have [him] christened,” he added.

Social welfare staffers who were able to interview the infant’s mother said she told them she found Talbot on the internet. The foreigner had expressed interest in adopting her child.

Authorities have yet to verify Talbot’s date of arrival in the Philippines although they learned she met with the baby’s mother twice, on Aug. 21 and 28.

Dimaano said that Talbot should not have been allowed to travel from Davao City to Manila without the necessary travel papers for the infant.