Shoplifter goes into labor at Makati jail

A suspected shoplifter went into labor at midnight yesterday while she and her also pregnant friend were being detained at the Makati City police headquarters on J.P. Rizal street.

A few hours after night duty police officers rushed her to a nearby lying-in clinic, Alona Mancinido, gave birth to a boy, case investigator, Police Officer 2 Ricky Mel Corpuz, told The STAR.

Corpuz said Mancinido and Annabel Marabe, both in their late 20s to early 30s, were caught by Landmark Department Store security guards allegedly trying to sneak out some infants’ pajamas and pairs of pants for adults at around 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

The items were worth an estimated P7,000, Corpuz said.

Initial reports showed the two women allegedly hid the clothes with the toys they bought at the store. Unknown to them, they were seen by the security guards.

The suspects were brought to the police headquarters.

Corpuz said that during interrogation, the suspects told him that they took the clothes "for fun."

At around 12:30 a.m. yesterday, Mancinido’s water bag broke, sending policemen into a frenzy like expectant fathers themselves.

Mancinido was loaded into a police car and rushed to the clinic in Barangay Bangkal.

The policemen waited with Mancinido’s husband while she gave birth, Corpuz said.

After she had regained her strength and was given a clean bill of health by her doctor, Mancinido was brought back to the police station.

"Unfortunately, while we want her to enjoy her first moments with her son, she remained under our custody," Corpuz said.

Mancinido’s co-suspect, Annabel Marabe, declined an interview with The STAR. She is five to six months pregnant, police said.

But late yesterday afternoon, both suspects were also released after Landmark’s management decided not to file a case against the two, Corpuz said.

"Apparently, the management took pity on them, especially Mancinido who just gave birth," Corpuz said.