American held after baby found in her bag
GOVERNMENT agents yesterday filed a human trafficking complaint against an American who got arrested for trying to sneak out of the country a six-day old infant without proper travel documents.
National Bureau of Investigation agents caught Jennifer Erin Talbot at the boarding gate of Manila’s international airport yesterday while carrying the infant inside a sling bag, Manuel M. Dimaano, head of the bureau’s International Airport Investigation unit, told a briefing.
She managed to pass through the immigration counter without declaring the baby.
Ms. Talbot is also facing complaints for kidnapping and serious illegal detention and violation of the law against child abuse, the NBI said in a statement.
The foreigner failed to present a travel clearance issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development for the infant, Mr. Dimaano said.
While the suspect presented some forms for the baby’s travel clearance, she did not have clearance from the Social Welfare department, he said.
The affidavit of consent and support supposedly executed by the infant’s mother for the baby’s travel to the United States also does not have her signature, according to the bureau.
Ms. Talbot did not have a criminal record, Mr. Dimaano said, citing the US Embassy in Manila.
Maricris C. Dulap, the mother of the baby and the unnamed father were included in the complaint for child abuse. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
