14 hours ago
4
CEBU CITY — The management of the city hospital clarified that it had no involvement in the alleged selling of a newborn, emphasizing that the reported transaction took place after the mother and her baby have been discharged from the hospital.
Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) chief Dr. Anton Oliver Reposar II confirmed that the woman gave birth at the hospital but said that all dealings related to the alleged sale occurred outside the hospital's jurisdiction.
He said the hospital officially discharged the mother and child on March 6, 2025, at around 6 p.m., ending CCMC's responsibility for their welfare.
Reposar assured that no transaction happened inside the hospital, nor did authorities conduct a rescue operation there.
He emphasized that CCMC enforces strict security policies, making it nearly impossible for an illegal transaction to take place within the facility.
Get the latest news
delivered to your inbox
Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters
By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
He said security personnel carefully monitor everyone entering the hospital and verify their purpose. Even members of the press, he noted, face difficulty gaining access due to these measures.
Hospital records showed that the mother had been admitted on Feb. 20, gave birth the same day, and remained at CCMC for two weeks as her baby received medical treatment.
"We are responsible for patients while they are inside the hospital, but once they are discharged, whatever happens at home is beyond our control," he said.
LtCol. Maria Theresa Macatangay, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) deputy director for operations, said the hospital might have been unaware of the alleged sale because the transaction occurred without any disturbance.
She pointed out that authorities did not observe any commotion or struggle when the exchange happened.
The investigation began when a concerned citizen reported hearing one of the woman's children mention that their newborn sibling had been sold in exchange for a cellphone.
Acting on the tip, police confronted the mother at her home, where she admitted to selling the infant with the help of a middleman.
Further inquiries revealed that the newborn had been sold for P30,000, but Macatangay later confirmed that the amount reached P87,000.
Police later identified the buyer as a nurse married to a military officer.
The mother, who has seven other children under her care, also confessed to selling a child previously.
Authorities likewise hinted that drug use may have played a role in the decision to sell the baby.
Police detained the mother and her live-in partner at the Cebu City Jail, while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) took custody of their children, including the rescued infant.
