Police health officer helps mother deliver baby while at swabbing center

Police Lt. Col. Jesus Ostrea III helps deliver the baby of a 31-year-old mother who was waiting to avail a swab test at MOA Arena in Pasay City last Oct. 6. Photo from the PNP Medical Reserve Force

MANILA, Philippines — Police Lt. Col. Jesus Ostrea III went earlier than usual to his work at the mega swabbing center at Mall of Asia Arena (MOA) in Pasay City when he was greeted by a big responsibility to help deliver the baby of a woman.

He spotted Cherry Anne Natividad Balat, 31, who was availing the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for COVID-19 at the mega swabbing facility. The mother, unexpectedly, needed assistance to give birth for her baby on Oct. 6, Tuesday.

Ostrea, swabbing facility administrator, said he immediately helped give a “normal spontaneous delivery” of the baby girl at 8:20 a.m. outside the swabbing center, manned by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) medical staff.

“Nasa danger silang mag-ina so nasa life-threatening situation sila, na sige lang sugalin ko lang na sige lang i-assist ko na,” Ostrea, who is a former nurse, told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview.

(The mother and daughter are in a dangerous, life-threatening situation so okay I would have to gamble everything and assist them.)

Photo from the PNP Medical Reserve Force

“‘Yun naman sinumpaan namin na frontliner kami. Na-taon lang na nandoon ako. ‘Di ako pumapasok nang ganoon kaaga kasi yung activity nag-start ng 9 ‘o clock,” he added.

(That is our sworn duty as frontliners. It just so happened that I was there. I was not supposed to go early as the activity starts at 9 a.m.)

Ostrea was assisted by encoders as well as BCDA staffers who provided first aid and other necessities.

After helping the woman to give birth, Ostrea felt like he was in a movie, with the audience applauding for his heroic deed.

“Palakpakan yung mga tao parang napanood na pelikula. Ako rin natouch ako parang feeling ko hero talaga. Kasi bibihra lang po makatulong sa atin sa pambihirang sitwasyon,” Ostrea, who is serving as a police officer for 24 years, said.

(People started clapping, it was like a movie. I was touched because I felt like a hero. Because only a few people can offer their help in these extraordinary situations.)

Ostrea immediately called an ambulance to transport the mother and daughter to a hospital, which he said he could not divulge for privacy.

Photo from the PNP Medical Reserve Force

Later, Ostrea managed to visit the mother and her baby to check on their condition after receiving information from the father. He said he brought toiletries, coffee and vitamins for the family while waiting at the hospital where Balat was admitted.

In a video message shared by Ostrea, Balat thanked the PNP especially Ostrea for the successful birth of her baby girl.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa mga tumulong sa akin kahapon na naabutan ako magpanganak sa MOA arena lalong lalo na kay Col. Ostrea at sa iba pang nagassist,” she said.

(I would like to thank those who helped us when I gave birth to my child at the MOA Arena especially to Col. Ostrea and others who assisted.)

JPV