Man faces raps for failing to bury baby

MANILA, Philippines -A man is facing a criminal case for asking to be paid even after he failed to bury a couple’s dead newborn baby.

Jessie Sampoang was charged with estafa after he dropped the baby boy along a street in Quezon City after he was hired to bury the infant in Bagbag Cemetery in Novaliches.

The charges stemmed from a complaint filed by the baby’s parents, Danilo Alconvendas and his partner Cherry Gultian, Inspector Elmer Monsalve said.

The baby’s body, wrapped in cloth, was found by motorists along a street in Kingspoint Subdivision also in Barangay Bagbag on Wednesday afternoon. The baby was identified through a hospital tag on the body.

Gultian gave birth prematurely to her son, who died due to complications on the same day at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center on Aug. 12. After securing a death certificate and a cadaver release slip from the hospital, Alcovendas was introduced to Sampoang, who offered to bury the child for P2,000.

On Wednesday, the woman gave her son’s remains to the suspect with P1,500 as initial payment. Alconvendas wanted to accompany the Sampoang to the cemetery but the latter refused.

The suspect lost the remains of the baby but the following day, Sampoang sent text messages to Alconvendas, asking for the remainder of the payment.

However, the couple learned from the police that their dead baby was found lying on the road.