Baby kidnapped in Quezon City hospital

MANILA, Philippines – Police have launched a manhunt for a woman who allegedly kidnapped a newborn in a private hospital in Quezon City Tuesday morning.

The Quezon City Police District yesterday released the artist sketch of the suspect, who disguised as a doctor.

QCPD director Chief Superintendent Mario de la Vega described the woman to be in her late 30s, about 5’5” in height and fair-skinned.

The hospital guard told police that the suspect was seen carrying a big shoulder bag.

“The baby could have been placed in the bag,” De la Vega said.

The infant’s mother, Maria Cecilia de los Santos, said a woman clad in a doctor’s suit approached her at the OB-Gyne ward of the Sta. Teresita General Hospital at 4 a.m.

She said the woman took her baby for newborn screening test but she never returned.

Lax security

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) has ordered an investigation into the kidnapping of the three-day-old baby.

Health Undersecretary Ted Herbosa said they will determine the possible liability of the hospital.

“We will investigate this incident and see if there are any liabilities or negligence on the part of the hospital. These things should not be happening. Imagine a baby being kidnapped inside a hospital,” Herbosa said.

Herbosa said he can already see some “probable cause” to penalize the hospital management.

Herbosa said there is an obvious lax in security on the entry and exit of people from the hospital premises as well as the inefficiency of the nurses on duty.