For kidnapping baby: Fake nurse, ex-boyfriend charged

CEBU, Philippines - The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 has filed kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges before the Prosecutor’s Office against a call center agent who posed as a nurse and kidnapped a newborn at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

Melissa Londres, 26, of Barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City, and her former boyfriend Philip Winfred Almeria, 27, of Sitio Fatima, Barangay Lahug, were charged for violation of Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code or kidnapping and serious illegal detention yesterday afternoon.

Senior Inspector Delfin Bontuyan said Almeria was included in the complaint when he insisted the baby was theirs.

During inquest proceeding, the two suspects, with the assistance of lawyer Mario Edgardo Montenegro, chose to undergo preliminary investigation to answer the allegations filed against them. Inquest prosecutor Aida Sanchez gave them 10 days to file their counter-affidavits.

In his sworn statement, Jonathan Warain Celadiña, 27, of Barangay Calajo-an, Minglanilla, Cebu, said while he was assisting his wife, Jayvee, and their new born son Prince Niño on January 4, 2016 at about 12:30 p.m. at the Child Survival Center of VSMMC, a woman wearing a nurse’s uniform approached them and said she had to bring their baby to the lab for anti-dengue vaccination.

Jayvee accompanied the woman while Jonathan left to process their benefits.

Jayvee said Londres told her to wait outside the laboratory because of hospital policy. However, she was surprised when Londres suddenly walked to the parking lot with her baby prompting her to follow, but she was blocked by the security guard.

She went back to the ward and phoned her husband.

Jonathan said he immediately went back and reported the incident to the hospital management. VSMMC hospital chief Dr. Gerardo Aquino Jr. instructed the CCTV operator to review the footages and they were able to determine that Londres was not one of their staff.

Jonathan said upon the advice of the hospital, he reported the incident to the Fuente Police Station and the CIDG for assistance.

On January 5, at about 7:30 p.m., Jonathan received a call from Bontuyan informing them that their baby has been rescued and the suspects were arrested and requested him and his wife to proceed to their office for identification. There he positively identified Londres as the woman who took her son.

Bontuyan and other arresting officers said on January 5 they received a report from a concerned citizen that the suspect was sighted in Sitio Fatima, Barangay Lahug. They went to the area, knocked on Londres’ door and saw the baby after they were let in.

When they announced the arrest, Almeria allegedly resisted saying not to touch their child.

“Ayaw na’g hilabti ang bata kay amo manang anak, bisag ato panang ipa-DNA, ipaklaro nang ilang pamasangil,” Almeria allegedly said while trying to grab the baby.

Bontuyan said they already submitted DNA samples from the baby but there were no results yet.

Londres and Almeria are currently detained at the CIDG headquarters.

Informant awarded

The P100,000 cash reward has already been given to the informant who led the policemen to the house of the suspect.

The informant, who is also a neighbor of Londres, said the face of the woman captured in security camera footage taking the baby away looked familiar and he suspected it was Londres.

He said as of now, he still does not know what to do with the money he received but he will share it with the photographer. — Mylen P. Manto, Ma. Fatima R. Secuya and Michael Vencynth H. Braga/BRP