Man caught dumping fetus

A man was caught in the act of disposing off a fetus at the center island of C.M. Recto Avenue in Binondo, Manila yesterday.

Meisic police station chief Superintendent Nelson Yabut said Mario Baasis, 45, told police he was hired to dispose off fetuses by an old “hilot” or traditional midwife, whom he identified as Milagros Capistrano, for P300 per fetus. He said he had observed a number of women coming to Capistrano’s house on Asuncion street in Binondo.

Police arrested Capistrano and her alleged assistant, Imelda Ramos. The lawmen failed to find any abortion equipment at Capistrano’s house. She said women came to her after drinking abortifacients bought from herbal vendors in Quiapo and it was she who massaged the women’s bellies to facilitate the abortion of the fetus.

She admitted hiring Baasis to dump the six-month-old fetus of her latest patient. “I am only helping deliver the dead fetus of the mothers. In fact my latest patient had her fetus already coming out when she came to me,” Capistrano told The STAR.

She said she was paid P700 to P1,000 by each patient. Yabut believes Capistrano’s illegal operation was behind the fetuses discovered in various areas of Manila. – Nestor Etolle