By Daniel Que
A routine patrol shift took a dramatic turn for a lady police officer in San Jacinto Municipal Station in Pangasinan when she unexpectedly assisted in the delivery of a baby inside a police vehicle.
On October 30, Lieutenant Celeste Cereno, the duty officer, was approached by a woman, identified only as “Ana,” who was in urgent need of help. Ana, accompanied by her husband and mother, was in labor and seeking immediate assistance.
Efforts to call for an ambulance proved futile, prompting Cereno to make a decisive move to transport Ana to Mapandan Community Hospital. However, fate had a different plan.
Cereno, a registered nurse by profession, was more than equipped to handle the situation. Alongside Police Corporal Glevin Lope, who drove the vehicle, Cereno calmly reassured Ana as they rushed to the hospital.
As they sped down the road, it became apparent that the baby was already coming out. Cereno, adapting quickly to the emergency situation, used her medical expertise and the available resources to deliver a healthy baby boy. She used the latex gloves required for officers to carry as part of their standard deployment gear in assisting Ana to give birth to her baby.
Both mother and child were immediately attended to upon arrival at the Mapandan Community Hospital.
This extraordinary display of quick thinking and compassion by Lieutenant Cereno highlights the dedication and versatility of law enforcement officers who often go above and beyond the call of duty.