Mom can't be with rescued baby she sold to pay off e-sabong debt

The much-awaited reunion between the nine-month-old baby who was sold by her mother for P45,000 and her family will have to wait even after she was rescued earlier this week.

According to John Consulta's report on "24 Oras", the baby will be kept away from her mother as the latter might again sell her child.

“Yung possibility na ulitin nung nanay medyo malaki yon kasi nga kakasuhan pa rin namin siya so it is up to the DSWD to really evaluate kung ano ang makakabuti sa bata because always 'yung best interest ng bata ang importante dito,” said Atty. Janet Francisco, chief of the NBI–Anti Human Trafficking Division.

She said it would be up to the DSWD to evaluate the case.

(The possibility of the mother repeating the incident is quite big. We will still file charges against her so it is up to the DSWD to really evaluate what will be good for the child because it is always in the best interest of the child is important here.)

“Sinasabi nga the law may be harsh but it is the law kailangan ipatupad natin ito ng pantay pantay, so bahala na ang fiscal o ang prosecutor o ang korte na magdesisyon sa kasong ating isasampa at may kinalaman doon sa nanay na nagbenta,” NBI Director Eric Distor said.

(The law may be harsh but it is the law we need to enforce it equally, so it is up to the fiscal or the prosecutor or the court to decide on the case we will file it and the mother who sold the child is also involved.)

The baby was recovered by NBI agents on Tuesday in Sta. Cruz, Laguna. She was also turned over to the custody of the DSWD.

The authorities also arrested two suspects,  live-in partners Imelda Maligiran and a Nigerian national identified as Maxwell Brine.

Based on the NBI's intelligence report, this may not be the first time that the arrested group bought a child.

“Tinitignan na natin ano yung role noong nahuling suspect na may kinalaman sa kasong ito baka ito ay may role na mas malaki sa sindikato sa human trafficking. Hindi natin titigilan na mahuli lahat ng may kinalaman sa illegal na krimeng ito,” Distor said.

(We are already looking at the role of the suspects in relation to this case, maybe they have a bigger role in the human trafficking syndicate. We will not stop apprehending everyone involved in this illegal crime.)

The Department of Justice (DOJ) held inquest proceedings against the suspects. They, however, refused to give a statement.

The arrested suspects will face charges for violating the Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and RA 7610 under Section 7 on Child Trafficking. —Richa Noriega/NB, GMA News