Parents of baby 'silenced' with tape to sue maternity clinic

MANILA, Philippines — The parents of a newborn child found to have been allegedly silenced with adhesive tape by a maternity clinic in Cebu will soon go to court to file charges.

Ryan Noval, father of baby Yohannes, said in a radio interview Wednesday that he will file child abuse charges against the Cebu Puericulture Center and Maternity House, Inc. for sealing the child's lips with adhesive tape.

Noval and the mother of the baby, Jasmine Badocdoc, have been frustrated with the repeated denial of the clinic's staff and nurses even after several reports of other babies being mistreated surfaced.

A photo of Yohannes posted by Noval on Facebook on May 9 went viral and prompted other parents to show images of their babies whose lips were also sealed by the same nursery.

Chesiel Lyka Arsua's baby Blair and Lucresio Son's granddaughter were also reportedly victims of the Cebu Puericulture.

Noval said in a report by The Freeman on Wednesday that he knows of a fourth mistreated baby, which may bolster the planned case.

Son, meanwhile, expressed his willingness to testify against the maternity center and help Noval and Badocdoc pursue charges. - Camille Diola

From The Freeman: Incident causes social media uproar: Nurse seals baby’s mouth with a tape