Woman gives birth in detention cell

A pregnant woman who was detained at the Mabolo police station for allegedly stealing the shoulder bag of a woman while she was shopping inside a mall last Saturday was able to give birth to a healthy baby boy inside the detention cell of the Mabolo police station early yesterday morning.

Filipina Noval, 40, a native of Cagayan de Oro City but temporarily living in barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City, was earlier arrested for theft last Saturday afternoon.

SPO1Elvis Anunciado of the Mabolo police station said that Noval was arrested by mall guard William Husoy after Annette Salilas of barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City, asked for his help.

Anunciado said Salilas claimed the suspect took her shoulder bag which contained P20,000 and $50 as well as checks a cellphone and credit cards.

But after Noval was detained at the Mabolo police station detention cell she kept on complaining of labor pains and asked to be brought to the hospital suspecting that she might already give birth.

But when the police brought her to the Cebu City Medical Center at about 2:35 a.m. yesterday, the attending physicians advised the policemen to bring her back to the police station saying it was not yet time for her to give birth.

However, after SPO3 Raul Magdadaro brought her back behind bars, the suspect went into labor and police quickly called the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation that came and assisted in the delivery of a healthy baby boy at about 4:50 a.m. yesterday.

The baby was later turned over to the DSWD-7 by PO1 Ian Samson.

While the police are waiting today for the victim to appear before their office should she decided to press charges against Noval, the suspect will have to spend some time away from her newborn child. - Flor Z. Perolina