Newborn found dead in QC creek

A newborn child was found dead in a creek in Quezon City, according to a "24 Oras" report from Vonne Aquino on Thursday.

The body of a dead baby was found floating in a creek in Barangay Kamuning in Quezon City at around 1:00 p.m.

A resident said they saw the child near some of the rocks.

“May napansin po ako na baby po doon, pinatawag ko na po sa kapitbahay para i-report po…Parang sumabit po doon sa may ilalim,” a witness said. (I saw a baby there, I had the neighbor call to report it… It was hanging right under.)

Barangay officials responded and coordinated with police.

“This is the first time na talagang makita namin yung aktwal talaga na makita namin na may fetus talaga… Parang hindi po sa amin, kasi parang antagal na iba na po yung kulay nung fetus eh tsaka bloated na po siya,” Barangay Kamuning executive official Jessica Magculang said.

(This is the first time we saw, actually saw that there was a fetus… He is not from us, because the fetus’ color is different, his color was different and he was bloated.)

According to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 10, after the baby was retrieved from the creek, it was turned over to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU).

“Makikita po 'yung umbilical cord pa po nung bata, wala pa naman siya sa decomposition stage… Batang lalaki siya and around seven to nine inches po yung haba niya… Kailangan natin malaman kung buhay pa ba siya nung inilabas or patay na siya nung itinapon. Yun po mga detalye pa na under investigation,” said QCPD Public Information Office Chief Police Major Jennifer Gannaban.

(We could see from the umbilical cord of the child, he was not yet in the decomposition stage… He was a baby boy, and around seven to nine inches long… We need to know if he was still alive when he was put out or if he was dead when he was thrown away. Those details are under investigation.)

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) lamented the incident.

“Dapat walang batang mawalan ng buhay o makaranas ng karahasan, lalong-lalo na mula sa kamay ng sinumang inaasahan na mag-aaruga at magpoprotekta sa kanya,” DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said.

(No child should lose his life or experience harm, especially from those who are expected to care for and protect them.)

Dumlao said that it should also be considered that parents may experience psychological or mental distress. — Jean Mangaluz/BAP, GMA News