Police rescued Wednesday evening the three-month-old baby of a cigarette vendor from Cebu and subsequently arrested the couple who kidnapped and intended to sell the infant inside Cuyos Compound, Barangay Tayud, Liloan, Cebu.
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Chief Superintendent Victor Deona said the rescue operation was led by CIDG-Region 7 director Senior Supt. Marlon Tabaya.
In his report, Tabaya identified the arrested couple as Mary Jane Carizon and her live-in partner Michael Petiluna.
“During the conduct of interview, Carizon admitted the crime and has the plan to eventually sell and dispose the baby to possible clients for the purpose of raising money for the treatment of her daughter. On the contrary, Senior Supt. Tabaya said that based on witnesses’ account, suspect’s daughter was already dead,” CIDG public information officer Chief Inspector Elizabeth Jasmin said.
On Nov. 2, Maricel Enriquez, mother of the kidnapped baby, sought the help of the police to locate her baby and arrest Carizon.
“Her intense desire to find her daughter was successful,” Jasmin said.
Carizon took the baby in the vicinity of South Bus Terminal, N. Bacalso Avenue in Cebu City.
According to Tabaya’s official report, Carizon asked Enriquez if she could hold the baby while Enriquez was busy tending to her customers. Enriquez agreed —until she discovered that her child and the suspect were already gone.
She said the suspects are now in custody of CIDG-Region 7 facing charges for violation of RPC Article 267 (Kidnapping) as amended by RA 1084.