Mother, 39, arrested for killing own newborn

A 39-year-old married woman was arrested at 7 p.m. last Thursday for allegedly killing her newborn four months ago in Sitio Bas, Barangay Perrelos, Carcar City.

Chief Insp. Randy Korret, the city police commander, said they served the warrant of arrest issued by Cebu City Regional Trial Court Branch 6 Judge Ester Veloso for infanticide and two counts of child abuse against Juana (real name withheld).

The newborn was reportedly borne out of an illicit affair.

A bail of P80,000 was set for each count of child abuse, but Juana cannot be released as no bail was set for the infanticide case. Her alleged crime was known after her 12-year-old daughter told the Women and Protection Children’s Desk investigator that her mother had the abortion in her presence last June. Before seeing the dead newborn, an investigation showed that the girl was instructed by a pregnant Juana to get Panyawan leaves from her neighbor’s yard.

After giving the leaves to her mother, the girl saw several medicines in the room, which made her think that her mother was suffering from a tumor in her stomach.

Juana later asked for a pair of scissors from her daughter. She then shouted at her daughter not to enter the room.

When Juana’s husband arrived home, they both saw the bloodied newborn wrapped in towels. /