“Beautiful shoplifter” attempts to kill self

CEBU, Philippines - The girl who was tagged as the “Beautiful shoplifter of Cebu” has attempted to commit suicide on Tuesday by trying to overdose herself with a drug prescribed for the treatment of tuberculosis.

The incident happened inside a facility accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development where the girl is undergoing diversion program while facing criminal charges.

Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, who co-chaired the Provincial Council for the Welfare of Children, reported that the girl took in Isoniazid or isonicotinic acid hydrazide at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

Capitol’s deputy security chief Roberto Legaspi, who responded to the incident, said the girl was already vomiting when he arrived.

He added that the girl took the medication from a cabinet that was left open.

The cabinet was located inside an office where the girl used to visit when she wanted to talk to the DWSD personnel, Legaspi said.

The staff did not notice it until 4 p.m., the time she was already throwing up.

“She admitted to have taken the medication but for what reason, she did not divulge that,” he told reporters.

Magpale, however, said the minor is now safe and is being taken care of in an undisclosed hospital.

In an interview over the phone, Rose Jao, assistant Officer-in-charge of the Provincial Social Welfare Office, said she is waiting for the investigation report of DSWD.

DSWD-7 officials were not available for comment. Several calls were made by The Freeman yesterday but these were left unanswered.

The minor was turned over to the custody of the social welfare after criminal charges of estafa were lodged against her for allegedly not paying her three-day accommodation in a resort in Asturias town worth P15,000 and P2,000 salon services in Cebu City.

However, the beach resort owner has already executed an affidavit of desistance after somebody (whose name was not disclosed) paid for the bill. The minor had gained prominence in social media after being involved in a shoplifting incident in a store in Mandaue City in August.

Magpale said there was already a request from the lawyer for the release of the minor.

“It has to be center to center. The center will turn over the minor in conflict with law to another center in Sogod (Leyte, the hometown of the girl),” she added.

A conference with the mayor and the women’s desk of Sogod is initially set for January 27. Magpale said the minor have to stay in a center, pending the psychosocial processes.

The minor’s parents earlier gave permission to let her remain in the custody of the social welfare office. — /FPL (FREEMAN)