A 45-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly purchasing a newborn baby at the Cebu City Medical Center. (Contributed photo)
CEBU CITY – Police arrested a woman who purchased a newborn baby at the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) four months ago.
The 45-year-old suspect was listed as the city’s second most wanted person.
She was arrested by the City Investigation and Detective Management Unit of the Cebu City Police Office past 6 a.m. on Tuesday, July 22, in Sitio Tabay, Barangay Guadalupe here.
The suspect faces charges for violating Sections 4 and 4(G) of Republic Act 11862, the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022. Bail was set at P200,000.
Police said the suspect bought a baby from a couple last March 6.
The couple was arrested the following day. They were arrested when one of their children told neighbors that her parents would buy her a cellphone after her newborn sibling was sold.
Neighbors reported the child’s revelations to the police. It was learned that this was not the first time the couple had sold a child.
A neighbor told police that the mother was taken to the CCMC to give birth. They were surprised when she came home without a baby.
Investigators learned that the baby was sold for P100,000 with P30,000 going to the couple. The rest of the proceeds went to the middleman.
Authorities were able to identify the woman that led them to the couple in Barangay Duljo Fatima.
Police continued investigating the incident until the suspect was arrested. The suspect admitted buying the baby without legal adoption documents.