"Dream" leads BIN to buried fetus mother now detained and faces charges for abortion

CEBU, Philippines - A 29-year-old woman and her mother will be facing criminal charges after they were identified as the ones responsible in aborting and burying a seven-month old fetus at a cornfield in Barangay Dungguan, Danao City.

The two were arrested by the Danao City police on Saturday morning after Lorenda Tees, their neighbor, claimed she has been dreaming of the site where the fetus was buried. She said somebody in her dreams told her that a baby was buried in the place.

Police said the suspect, Norma Romanillos, was trying to hide her pregnancy from her husband because the baby was allegedly by another man. Her husband is working abroad.

Her mother, 58-year-old Rosalita Moneba, admitted that she helped Romanillos in burying the baby in their cornfield on November 3.

SPO1 Bryan Batiquin, Danao City police investigator, said that Tees sought assistance from the Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN) after her dreams bothered her.

The BIN tried to dig the area manually and noticed a cloth which was later turned out to be the cover of the fetus. This prompted the BIN to call the police.

“Nahibaw-an na nila nga tinuod gyud diay kay didto may panapton unya duna gyu’y bata,” Batiquin said.

Batiquin added that Romanillos even tried to hide her condition from her parents but her mother, who was able to detect her pregnancy, let her decide on the fate of the baby.

During police interrogation, Romanillos admitted that she tried to kill the baby by taking Cytotec tablets. Cytotec administration to women who are pregnant can cause abortion, premature birth, or birth defects.

But the baby was not aborted, so she asked the help of Moneba.

Batiquin said Romanillos has four children aged 10, 7, 5 and 3. Her husband comes home from abroad every two years.

The police investigator added that they will be meeting with the Department of Social Welfare and Development to discuss the custody of the children who are temporarily staying at the house of their grandfather.

“Amo pa i-check ang capability sa apohan nga makabuhi kay mag-uuma ra pud intawon,” Batiquin said. — (FREEMAN)