PNP hospital records first triplet delivery

MANILA, Philippines - A wife of a rookie police officer gave birth to triplets – all girls yesterday morning at the PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Harlyn Taguba, a public school teacher in Bacoor, Cavite, wife of PO1 Cesar Taguba, of Police Community Precinct 6 of the Valenzuela police station, gave birth to three girls at around 8 a.m.

The couple named the girls - Love, Faith and Hope. All the three babies weigh an average of 2.5 kilos each and all over described to be in good health.

The mother, 26, delivered her three daughters one minute apart between 8:58 and 9 a.m. thru caesarian section in the first ever recorded delivery of triplets at the PNP General Hospital.

“The couple chose the date Oct. 20, 2010 or 10-20-2010, which is almost like the 10-10-10,” said a hospital staff.

Anticipating the expenses in raising the triplets, the staff asked members of the media to ask the PNP leadership to extend assistance to the couple.

The father burst into excitement outside the delivery room as doctors announced the successful delivery of the triplets.

Before the triplets, the couple has a two-year-old daughter named Precious Gift.

PO1 Taguba said they learned that Harlyn was carrying triplets after her ultrasound when she was five-month pregnant. Since then, the couple made sure to visit the PNPGH religiously. “She was admitted at the hospital Sept. 16 when there were indications of her pre-term or indications of early labor. Our doctors gave special attention to her since her pregnancy with triplets is considered high risk,” another staff said.

Chief Superintendent Francisco Altarejos, director of the PNP Health Service, said this is the first time that triplets were delivered at the PNPGH. Altarejos assured that as a DOH-certified tertiary hospital, the PNPGH is fully equipped and capable of handling similarly delicate medical procedures.

Altarejos commended PNPGH obsterician-gynecologists Drs. Jenny Mae San Luis, Michelle Daguino, and Robert Gonzales, who performed the caesarian section procedure and Dr. Maria Angela Manas-Vidal, chief of the hospital.

Pediatricians Drs. Cynthia Bustamante, Margarette Rose Ele and Jamie Sansano are now attending to the triplets.

Altarejos said barring any unforeseen situation, the mother and daughters will be discharged from the hospital on Saturday or Sunday, but will continue to undergo regular out-patient monitoring and medical check up.

PO1 Taguba is now considering of inviting Librada Bacalzo, adviser of the PNP Officers’ Ladies Club and wife of PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo to stand as sponsor when the triplets are eventually baptized.