Woman in baby sale crossfire

Woman in baby sale crossfire



By Khushwant Singh

THE Singaporean woman allegedly involved in a baby-for-sale racket is caught in the crossfire of some political infighting in the Philippines, said her husband.
Television network ABS-CBN had reported on Tuesday that during an investigation into former mayor Voltaire Gellido, nine babies had been found in a house occupied by 50-year-old Irene Low Ai Lian in the town of Jala-Jala in Rizal province.
The report went to add that Mr Gellido had rented out the house to her.
Ms Low's husband, Robert Fox, told The Straits Times that she had been operating an adoption facility in the Philippines for two years without any hassle.
In Singapore, Madam Low is the boss of Fox Family Services Adoption Centre, which she set up in 2006.
Although Mr Fox, a 52-year-old telecoms consultant is not involved in the adoption operation, he has seen some of the approvals from the authorities there.
He said: 'I don't understand why it was reported that government officials said no permission had been obtained.'
Madam Low had been initially based in Pililla, in the province of Rizal. She decided about two months ago to improve facilities for the babies and move to neighbouring Jala-Jala.
He said: 'There appears to be a simmering dispute between Jala-Jala's former mayor and the town of Pililla.
'Then, one of Irene's former employees in Pililla, told police that a baby-for-sale syndicate was occupying one of the former mayor's houses.'
Madam Low, Mr Gellido and six nannies were questioned by police and the babies, aged one month to six months, are in the care of social welfare agencies.
Mr Fox flew over to the Philippines on Wednesday afternoon.
Before his flight, he told The Straits Times that his wife is assisting the department of social services to clear matters up.
According to Fox Family Services' website, the babies were given up by their mothers to the social welfare department or hospital, which contacts Ms Low to 'facilitate' the adoption, which costs the new parents about $20,000.
Madam Low has adopted two children, aged two and five, after failing to conceive despite going through fertility treatments.
She had told friends that the joy the adoptions brought her had inspired her to help other childless couples to adopt children.
Additional reporting by Theresa Tan