Abandoned baby dies

May 5, 2013 First published by Panay News Philippines

Iloilo - A baby was found dead inside a bag in Brgy. Pasil, New Lucena last Friday.
At around 9 am, a resident of Brgy. Pasil who initially thought it was animal meat inside the bag notified the New Lucena Police station of the package.

Mahan notes it was not anymore a fetus but a full-grown baby. He adds that the hair on his head and fully-developed features suggest he could be at the very least 8 months old.

He was laid on a bloody folded shirt inside the bag but Mahan notes the baby is clean.
Inside, the baby was wrapped in plastic then again in a canvas cloth bag.

Mahan said the baby appeared to have been left earlier that day judging by the condition of the corpse.

The investigator said, "The bag has been left intentionally behind a post and the elevation of the cement road makes it hard to see the bag."

Initial investigation suggests the mother of the child is not from Brgy. Pasil or nearby communities.

Questioning lead to a previously pregnant woman in Brgy. Pasil but the baby is alive and already with the mother.

The baby was brought to the New Lucena Polytechnic College Medical Clinic and Hospital for confirmation of death.

Afterwards, members of the local police and representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) brought the baby to the church for a blessing before it was buried at the municipal cemetery.

Mahan admits that looking for the mother of the dead baby will be very hard because there is no telling where she comes from.

Panay News previously reported that the Social Welfare Department of DSWD 6 has appealed to parents not to abandon their children and consider adoption.

DSWD 6 data shows 32 cases of baby abandonments in the region in recent years.

Social Welfare Officer 1 Rosario Sanagustin has noted in a previous interview the recent infant abandonment cases in Barotac Nuevo, Oton in the province, and an incident along Diversion Rd, Mandurriao in the city.

The Protective Services Unit (PSU) of DSWD 6 is open to adopting babies that will be otherwise abandoned.

DSWD 6 reports 193 court approved adoptions in the region from 2008-2012. (With a report from May Rago-Castillo, DSWD-6/PN)