Woman whose baby died to face charges

A WOMAN in Barangay Tawason, Mandaue City will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting to homicide for the death of her 19-day-old baby girl.

Christina Enriquez, 22, told police she was still breastfeeding her daughter Georgina around 1 a.m. yesterday. But when she checked around 3 a.m., the baby was no longer moving.

Her family rushed Georgina to the North General Hospital, but doctors declared her dead at 4:25 a.m.

A concerned citizen who was not identified reported the incident to the Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB) of the Mandaue City Police Office at 11 a.m.

Not detained

The caller told police the mother allegedly strangled her daughter.

But Insp. Ramil Morpus, IDMB assistant head, said there were no signs of foul play surrounding the death.

Christina also did not want her daughter autopsied.

Christina, a high school graduate and a single parent, lives with her mother, who is a contractor.

There were scratches on her daughter’s left cheek and forehead. Christina could not say what caused these.

Morpus, though, said Christina did not display any irregular behavior. “She talks accurately,” he said.

Police did not detain the suspect, but police know where her family’s house in Mandaue City and Cebu City are located.

Since the police have no witness, except the mother, the complaint against her will be filed regularly. That is, the investigator will submit the complaint and evidences to the prosecutor, who will ask the suspect to answer in a counter-affidavit.