Ma says cabbie, cohort kidnapped her newborn

MANILA, Philippines -  A woman told police yesterday her 14-day-old baby girl was snatched from her arms while they were in a taxi in Manila Monday afternoon.

Maricel Quijano, 34, a resident of DM Compound in Caloocan City, went to the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 3 at 10:30 a.m. yesterday. She said she took her baby for a checkup at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center Monday afternoon, but changed her plans upon the advice of her mother-in-law.

She told Senior Police Officer 2 David Gonzales Jr. she boarded a taxi parked in front of the hospital and sat in the front passenger seat, clutching her baby, Kim Charmly, in her arms.

Quijano said a woman slipped into the backseat and locked the cab. She said the taxi driver, who put on a gas mask, grabbed her bag, which contained P8,000 and her baby’s belongings.

The unidentified woman then grappled with her and took her baby. She said the cabbie and his cohort took her for a ride around the city for about eight hours until they dumped her in Rizal Park at around 10 p.m. She said she walked around aimlessly, weeping.

She said she went to the police when she regained her senses. Gonzales said the complainant was hysterical as she told her story. Quijano described the woman who took her baby as a “tomboy” in her 50s, chubby, fair-skinned and 5’1” tall.

The MPD has launched a manhunt for the woman and the taxi driver.