Parents worry on babies’ safety in caretakers

The Philippine Consulate was flooded with inquiries Wednesday from Filipino parents on the possibility of sending their United States-born children to the country without paying immigration duties and fees.

The numerous inquiries came in the wake of reports on the death of six-month-old Nina Ricci Mendoza, whom doctors believed was caused by massive brain injury. Authorities have questioned the baby’s caretaker, Bernardo “Boy” Manila for possible faults.

Consul Julia C. Heidemann said the consulate received numerous inquiries from Filipino parents who were alarmed by their children’s welfare in the hands of unlicensed baby sitters on Saipan, and have started looking at sending their US-born babies back home.

Ms. Heidemann said children born to Filipino couples can be issued by the Consulate a Certificate of Recognition which may exempt their parents from paying Philippine immigration fees for their stay in the country.

“We would like to encourage parents to come to the Consulate for assistance should they decide to send their US-born babies to the care of their relatives and families in the Philippines,” she told an interview.

The consul pointed out that important documentation are needed before a US-born child can be sent back and enter the Philippines, especially if the parents would want exemption from immigration fees.

“We issue a Certificate of Recognition which recognizes that the holder is a Filipino citizen for the purposes of entering the Philippines, so they wont be paying for the baby’s stay in the country,” Ms. Heidemann said.

At the same time, the Consulate warned all working parents to be a little more cautious in choosing caretakers for their children in order to prevent possible repetition of the incident which caused the death of Baby Nina Ricci.

“I know there are a lot of parents with the same predicament to have their babies taken care of by people they don’t really know well. We would like to warn them to be very careful in choosing a baby sitter,” she added.

Ms. Heidemann pointed out that parents should check on past records of the possible caretakers for their children to ensure their safety and protection against possible harm.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Mendoza and Loriza Dizon, said they intend to bury Baby Nina Ricci at the Mt. Carmel Cemetery on Saturday, a turnaround of the original plan to bring her back to the Philippines.

“We would rather have her buried here instead of bringing her back home and allow her grandparents to see her for the first time lifeless. It would be very painful for all of us, aside from the financial burden shipment of her remains would entail,” Mr. Mendoza and Ms. Dizon said.