Two days after a newborn kidnapped from the Lingayen District Hospital was recovered, police have filed kidnapping and human trafficking charges against the 21-year-old suspect.

The case was filed at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Lingayen afternoon on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, with no bail recommended.

“The final case filed by the duty inquest prosecutor is kidnapping and human trafficking,” PLtCol. Junmar Gonzales, chief of Lingayen Police Station, said.

Authorities said follow-up operations are ongoing to track down another suspect allegedly involved in the abduction.

“May isa pa kaming hinahabol. Ni-reveal niya na may nag-utos sa kanya in exchange for P5,000,” Gonzales added.

Police said they are building a case against the second suspect, also a woman, who is not a nurse and not from Lingayen.

The suspect said the person who ordered her to take the baby was from Malasiqui, Pangasinan.

Police said she claimed initially she was asked by supposed relatives of the baby’s parents to kidnap the child in exchange for P5,000.

She said later that she wanted to return the baby but had no money for transport. She reportedly managed to make contact with authorities and police officers went to a house in Barangay Sta, Rosa in Binmaley where they arrested the woman and recovered the baby.

“Nakokonsensya na raw ang suspek, parang inuusig na siya na ibalik ang sanggol. ’Yung gabi na ’yun plano na niyang ibalik ang sanggol pero wala siyang pera,” PLtCol. Junmar Gonzales, chief of Lingayen Police Station, said.

Governor Ramon Guico III ordered tighter security in all provincial hospitals and facilities, including the installation of CCTV cameras, to prevent another kidnapping from happening.

“Pasensya na po pero maghihigpit na po tayo sa mga ospital at mga facilities sa Provincial Capitol,” he said.

Police said the incident was not the work of a larger crime group but an isolated case.