Infant boy ‘kidnapped’

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A 17-day-old baby boy was allegedly kidnapped by an unidentified woman who pretended to be a relative of the child’s mother here Monday.

Police Major Jovil Sedel, head of Police Station 1, said 24-year-old Mary Grace Goto went to Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) here for her child’s medical consultation when the suspect approached and told her that they were relatives.

Sedel said the suspect told the mother to go with her at a shopping mall for a hair treatment but they failed to choose a salon there until they decided to go to the downtown area, where she had her hair treatment.

Sedel said that while the victim was inside the salon, the suspect who was waiting for her outside the salon volunteered to look after the baby.

The suspect and the baby then left the salon to buy food, the station commander added.

But they did not return after an hour, prompting the mother to seek police assistance.

Sedel said they have coordinated with the salon and the shopping mall to check closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footages to help them identify the suspect.

He said they also informed the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in case the suspect and the baby will be spotted at sea ports.

As of 7:50 p.m. Monday, the baby remains missing.