‘SHE DIDN’T DO IT’: Family doubts infanticide charge vs relative

By Felipe V. Celino 

ROXAS CITY, Capiz— “My family and I don’t believe my sister killed her newly born child.”

This was the emotional statement of Toto (not his real name), an older brother of Inday (also not her real name) who was accused of strangling to death her newborn son.

In an interview Wednesday, Toto said his sister loves children and is not predisposed to harming or killing a child.

Toto confirmed that his sister called them after the incident.

According to Inday, the child was already dead when she gave birth.

The baby’s umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck which may have caused the latter’s death.

“Wala na sang kabuhi ang lapsag sang nag-guwa sa iya tagu-angkan sa diin sang makita sini nga wala na nagahibi ang bata, iya ini ginpunasan, apang wala na ini nagaginhawa,” Toto said.

He said that his sister placed the infant in a plastic bag and later hid it in a drawer because she was already panicking.

Toto said that he planned to inform his sister’s employer about the incident.

Inday is the fifth of six siblings. She went to Roxas City to look for a job.

A case for infanticide was filed against Inday before the Roxas City Prosecutors Office on September 20.

Master Sergeant Ronie Recto, Roxas City police investigator, said that autopsy examination showed that the baby boy did not die from natural causes.

Instead, post-mortem results showed that the infant succumbed to asphyxiation due to strangulation.

Inday is now on hospital arrest after she underwent dilation and curettage procedure.

While she has no record of mental disturbance, police authorities might recommend her to undergo psychiatric evaluation.

Meanwhile, the family buried the infant Thursday morning in Pilar, Capiz.