TABINA, Zamboanga del Sur — A tight-knit coastal community is reeling in disbelief after the lifeless body of Kimberly Carpentero, a four-year-old girl, was recovered from the shoreline of Barangay Abong-abong on Tuesday afternoon—an incident that authorities now say points to her own mother as the prime suspect.
Grief-stricken grandparents could only weep as details emerged of the child’s tragic death, which police confirmed was caused by drowning. The case sent shockwaves through the town after investigators reversed initial assumptions and revealed that the child’s mother, not her father, was responsible.
According to the Tabina Municipal Police Station (MPS), the child’s body was found at around 3:00 p.m. on January 20 along the coast of Purok Amor. The discovery followed a frantic search by police and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) after a witness reported a disturbing sight earlier that morning.
Police said that at around 9:30 a.m., a witness saw an unidentified naked woman carrying a naked child toward the sea. Minutes later, the same woman was reportedly seen walking alone along the shoreline toward Sumpot, Dimataling—the child nowhere in sight. Alarmed, the witness immediately alerted authorities.
A multi-hour search operation ensued, ending in heartbreak when responders recovered the child’s body from the water. “The victim was rushed to the Tabina Rural Health Unit but was declared dead on arrival,” police said in their report.
Initial reports had mistakenly pointed to the child’s father, Junrey Carpentero, who was briefly detained by authorities. Police later clarified that his arrest stemmed from a separate incident involving an alleged assault on his own father, reportedly linked to a sudden mental breakdown. Investigators emphasized that he was not responsible for Kimberly’s death.
Further investigation led police to identify the child’s mother, Charilyn, as the true suspect. As of Wednesday morning, she had already fallen into police custody and is now being held at the Tabina Municipal Police Station for questioning and case build-up.
Kimberly’s remains have since been turned over to her grandmother in Culabay, Tabina, as the family mourns a life cut brutally short.
Local officials described the incident as “deeply disturbing” and urged residents to cooperate as investigators work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the child’s death. Authorities are also appealing to anyone with additional information related to the incident to coordinate with the nearest police station.
As Tabina grapples with grief and unanswered questions, the tragedy has ignited renewed calls for vigilance, mental health support, and child protection—lest another innocent life be lost in silence.