Kidnapped baby in Cebu rescued; suspect nabbed
The abducted baby is back at his father’s arms. CDN PHOTO/ APPLE TA-AS
Update
CEBU CITY – The woman, who allegedly pretended to be a medical personnel and stole an infant inside a government-run hospital, was arrested at around 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, said Supt. Marlon Tayaba, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7) chief.
The baby was also rescued during the operation conducted by CIDG-7 personnel in Sitio Fatima, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.
“The baby is okay and safe,” Tayaba told the Inquirer.
Prince Niño Celadenia was reunited with his father Jonathan who confirmed that the baby was his missing son.
The suspect Melissa Londres, 26, was taken into custody while her live-in partner Philip Winfred Almeria was invited for questioning.
Tayaba said Londres claimed that the baby was her son, which puzzled her neighbors because they did not notice her getting pregnant. But she reportedly told them that she delivered the baby inside the taxi cab on Monday.
Neighbors reported their suspicion to CIDG-7 which conducted the operation on Tuesday night, less than 48 hours since the baby was taken from VSMMC.
Londres repeatedly denied that she was the one who took the baby and that, she was not the one seen in the CCTV footage.
She insisted that the baby is her son.
Tayaba said the motive could be a “lose baby syndrome” because the suspect reported had a miscarriage and wanted to have a baby.
Tayaba said Londres would be charged with kidnapping and would still have to determine if Almeria had participation in the crime.
Londres, a native of Tipolo, Mandaue City, claimed to be a call center agent and management accounting graduate of a university here.
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