Couple, teacher charged for sale of baby

A 40-year-old teacher was charged with illegal detention after he refused to return a six-month-old baby to its mother unless she paid him P30,000.

Arturo Tolentino told police he bought the baby from Alexander and Marivic Pineda, who were also charged with illegal detention.

Manila Assistant Prosecutor Rodolfo Azucena Jr. recommended no bail for their temporary liberty.

Police arrested the three after Jonalyn Calbay, 25, complained that Tolentino refused to return her baby until she gives back the P30,000 he paid the Pinedas.

Investigation showed the Pinedas borrowed the baby from Calbay on Aug. 2, 2007. Calbay’s husband is a nephew of the Pinedas.

When Calbay asked the Pinedas to return the baby after two days, she was told that a doctor from Cebu had adopted her baby.

Alexander Pineda later admitted that her baby had been sold to Tolentino. Calbay said when she talked to Tolentino via cellular phone, he told her she could have her baby back if she could come up with P30,000.

Calbay then sought the assistance of the Manila police, who planned an entrapment operation.

The police arrested Tolentino during an entrapment operation conducted on Sept. 18, 2007 at a mall in Divisoria.     – Sandy Araneta