Couple charged for selling nephew to teacher for P30,000

MANILA, Philippines – A couple accused of selling their six-month-old nephew for P30,000 last year was charged on Wednesday with serious illegal detention at the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC). Assistant City Prosecutor Rodolfo P. Azucena Jr. found probable cause for filing charges against Alexander and Marivic Pineda, both residents of Rizal Avenue in Sta. Cruz, Manila. Manila City Prosecutor Jhosep Y. Lopez [the name is spelled correctly] also ordered the filing of criminal charges in court against the alleged buyer of the infant, Arturo Q. Tolentino, a school teacher from Tondo, Manila. Azucena set no bail for all the accused. The charges stemmed from a complaint filed by the infant’s mother, Jonalyn P. Calbay, 25, a resident of Cunang, Antipolo City. According to records, the Pineda couple "borrowed" Exequiel from his mother on August 2, 2007. But when Calbay went to the Pineda’s house two days later to pick up the baby, the couple told her that a doctor from Cebu had adopted her child. When Calbay pleaded to get her child back, the uncle admitted that the baby was actually still in Manila and had been sold to Tolentino. Calbay said she was finally able to talk to Tolentino over the cell phone. Tolentino told her she could have her child back for P30,000. Tolentino was arrested by members of the Manila Police District (MPD) Women's and Children's Concern Section in entrapment operation conducted on Sept. 18, 2007, at the Tutuban Mall, Divisoria, Manila. After the operation, a clash almost erupted between police and mall security guards who prevented the lawmen from leaving the building. The tension eased when one of the cops explained what they were up to. - GMANews.TV