Woman who threw baby into creek charged

CEBU, Philippines - A case of infanticide has been filed against the woman who threw her baby into a creek in Barangay Opao, Mandaue City last Wednesday morning.

Elements of the Opao Police Station arrested the 28-year-old mother last Thursday night.

Police Officer 3 Pearl Anne Flores, officer-in-charge of the police station’s Women’s and Children’s Desk, said a witness identified the woman positively.

“Mopasaka mi ug kaso nga infanticide tungod kay adunay nibarug nga saksi nga nagpama-tuod nga naghilak pa ang bata sa dihang gilabay ug dunay makatumbok usab sa maong ginang nga kini ang galabay,” she said.

Under Philippine law, infanticide is the killing of a child who is less than three days old.

The mother was brought to the city prosecutor’s office for inquest proceeding yesterday morning but had to be brought to the hospital because she was reportedly not feeling well. “Gidala namo sa hospital ang maong ginang kay nagluspad ug gadugo pag-ayo,” said.

Flores said investigation revealed that the baby may still have been alive when she was thrown into the creek.

“Sa among initial nga pakisusi, posibleng nagginhawa pa ang bata dihang gilabay kini kay nagpositibo man sa floatation test ang baga sa bata base sa resulta sa autopsy,” Flores said.

The woman, married with three children, conceived the child with another man and reportedly threw the child for fear of her husband who is returning to the country. — Rowena D. Capistrano/JMO (FREEMAN)