Snatched 3-month-old baby rescued; suspect arrested

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested a woman and recovered the three-month-old baby girl she snatched in Mandaluyong City last July 6 during a rescue operation in Camarines Sur Tuesday.

The baby was reunited with her parents, Henry and Liezel Alcion, who accompanied police raiders in Lagonoy town, Camarines Sur where Lovelyn Casipe, 36, was nabbed.

Senior Superintendent Florendo Quibuyen, Mandaluyong City police chief, said Casipe tried to escape along with the baby. But the suspect was cornered by police officers.

“The parents of the baby are very happy that their only child is now with them,” Quibuyen said.

Police said the suspect kidnapped the infant after losing her own child in a miscarriage.

However, Casipe’s live-in partner, Rex Tranzona, told police she made him believe that the child was their own.

“I picked them up in Mandaluyong because she told me that she had given birth to our baby last February. I did not know she kidnapped the child,” Tranzona said.

Police said Casipe, who presented herself as a talent scout, snatched the baby after she convinced her mother that she would make her a model for a brand of milk in a television commercial.

According to Quibuyen, a barangay official in Camarines Sur called him up Monday and reported that Casipe was hiding in the province.

Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel, director of the Eastern Police District, immediately coordinated with Superintendent Ramiro Bausa of the Camarines Sur police to recover the baby.

Police are preparing kidnapping charges against Casipe before the Mandaluyong City prosecutor’s office. – With Cet Dematera