NAIA staff finds sleeping baby in mother's backpack

A mother, whose baby did not have proper travel documents, tried to smuggle the child out of the country. Desperate to bring him with her, she placed him inside a backpack.


Jenifer Pavolaurea, a 25-year-old Papua New Guinean resident, was not able to acquire an immigration clearance for her 2-month-old child. She decided to keep him inside her backpack, hoping that she would get away with it.

When she was checked at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, an immigration officer halted her as she was discovered to be an overstaying alien. When her bags were checked by the security through the x-ray machine, they were surprised to see the child inside.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Assistant General Manager for Security and Emergency Services Vicente L. Guerzon Jr. confirmed the incident with ABSCBN during an interview.

After a prompt investigation, Pavolaurea was turned over to a man named John Frederick Camarines by the airport authorities. After which she was allowed to go back to Papua New Guinea with no charges filed against her.