GENERAL SANTOS CITY — A swift rescue operation led by General Santos City Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao successfully thwarted the abduction of a 12-day-old infant on Wednesday, 22 January.

The mayor announced the recovery of the baby on her Facebook page, writing, “Good News! The baby is now successfully returned to his mother.”

According to police reports, the suspect, identified as Mary Ann, deceived the infant’s mother by offering to accompany her to a local lying-in clinic in Barangay Labangal for a vaccination. However, Mary Ann, along with her live-in partner Joel, had allegedly planned the abduction in advance.

Upon learning of the incident, Mayor Pacquiao promptly directed authorities to act and personally led the rescue effort. Within just 30 minutes, the baby was recovered at the suspects’ residence in Purok Blaan, Barangay Labangal.

‘Let us be careful and vigilant as we do not know the intentions of the people around us.’

Preliminary investigations revealed that Mary Ann, a former classmate of the baby’s mother, claimed her actions stemmed from personal struggles, including two miscarriages in the past year. She admitted to being depressed and had previously attempted to adopt another child, but the biological parents reclaimed the baby.

Both suspects are now detained at Makar Police Station, facing charges related to the attempted abduction.

In a statement, Mayor Pacquiao urged residents to remain cautious, saying, “Let us be careful and vigilant as we do not know the intentions of the people around us.”