Taguig PNP nabs kidnapper of newly born child; baby safely returned to parents

Just one week after committing the crime, the long arm of the law caught up with the woman suspected of abducting a new born child at the Taguig Pateros District Hospital (TPDH) last February 13.

 Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano announced on Saturday (February 21) the arrest of the suspect responsible for the kidnapping of baby boy Francis John from the delivery room of the TPDH.

 Mayor Lani identified the suspect as Maria Rosman Mañalac, 24, of Aguahan Dos, Bagumbayan, Taguig City, who was arrested in a police operation at the suspect’s house.

Lauded Taguig PNP

Mayor Lani lauded the officers of the Taguig PNP for a job well done in bringing the baby back to his parents and putting behind bars the suspect.

“With prompt action of our police officers, we were able to return the child to the rightful parents and arrest the person behind the case. Clearly crime does not pay,” Mayor Lani said.

Supt. Celso Rodriguez, of the Taguig Police Station, said the police received information on Friday regarding the whereabouts of the suspect following news that came out on television that a newly born child was kidnapped from the delivery room of the TPDH.

Supt. Rodriguez said that upon the instruction of Mayor Cayetano, a plan was immediately laid down and carried out by the police with the help of the information coming from concerned citizens, suspect Mañalac was arrested and the baby rescued at the suspect’s house.

Supt. Rodriguez said when the responding policemen arrived at the compound of the suspect’s house, he immediately saw the woman coming out of the door around 7 p.m.

The police official said Mañalac clearly fits the description of the woman captured by the hospital CCTV camera leaving the delivery room with the child on the night of February 13.

“Nung pumasok kami sa bahay positive na nakita namin yung baby na natutulog at merong parehong edad at parehong gender ng batang nawawala. Pagkatapos ay positibong itinuro si Mañalac ng mga nurse at POSO personnel na babaeng nakita nilang pumasok sa TPDH,” Supt. Rodriguez said.

Results of the medical examination show that Mañalac did not give birth and there was no sign of her getting pregnant from the period of the baby’s age.

Chief Insp. Benito Basilio, chief of the Taguig Criminal Investigation Division, said Mañalac confessed during interrogation that she got pregnant last year but she had a miscarriage and did the crime to replace her dead son.

Mañalac said her husband, who is a jeepney driver in Bulacan, and all her in laws knew that she gave birth that is why she committed the crime.

Chief Insp. Basilio said will be charged with kidnapping before the City Prosecutor’s Office. ###