Three newborns were found abandoned in separate incidents this week in Northern Luzon and Mindanao, two found alive in Abra and Kalinga, and one found dead in General Santos City.
In Lagangilang, Abra, a concerned citizen found a baby boy in a rice field in Barangay Aguet around 5 a.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
The infant was found naked with his placenta beside him.
According to police, the citizen was walking her dog when she heard the baby crying. She followed the sound to the field and immediately reported it to authorities.
The baby was rushed to the Rural Health Unit in Lagangilang before being transferred to Abra Provincial Hospital for further medical evaluation.
In Tabuk City, Kalinga, a newborn girl was found abandoned by the road in Lower Ipil around 5:45 a.m. on Sunday, September 14, 2025.
A van driver and his passenger discovered the infant wrapped in cloth with the placenta still intact.
They immediately sought help from a local women’s shelter worker, who assisted in bringing the baby to a clinic nearby.
The child was transferred later to the Kalinga Provincial Hospital and is now under the care of the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
Authorities in both provinces are investigating the incidents.
The Tabuk CSWD appealed to anyone with information about the identity or relatives of the baby girl to come forward, assuring that all information will be handled with confidentiality.
Meanwhile, a newborn boy was found dead at a drainage canal in a residential area in Barangay Dadiangas West, General Santos City morning on Friday, September 19, 2025.
A man who was sweeping the street saw the baby first, prompting residents to wrap the baby with a cloth.
“Mura siyag basura nga gilabay lang ba,” resident, Vergelio Islao, said.
According to a barangay health worker, the baby was already fully developed.
“Sa assessment namu full-grown na gyud siya, kay ngano kumpleto na siya, naa nay kamot, tiil, tapos kupleto na, naa pa gyud inunlan,” barangay health worker, Johana Sumarez, said.
Some residents suspect the mother gave birth in the area and abandoned the baby there.
“Wala tu siya gilabay ug kung gilabay pa tu, nakabalot unta siya, wala man siya gibalot. Murag diri gyud siya gi anak. murag diri na lang siya naabtan,” another resident, Joyce Ranque, added.
However, the barangay said no trace of blood was found in the area.
“Dili pud mi makaingon kung possible didto nakaanak kay wala gyud bakas nga dugo sa semento,” Sumarez said.
Barangay officials have coordinated with the police to identify who abandoned the baby.
“Posible din na tinapon lang doon at hindi taga doon sa ngayon ongoing ang aming investigation sa kaso,” Police Station 1 Deputy Chief, Capt. John Richard Lim, said.
“Sa mga kabatan-onan ilabi na kanang teenage pregnancy dili sila mahadlok para sa akua, naa ko BHW andam mutabang sa ilaha, kung wala silay ikabayad manganak pwede namu irefer sa doctor,” Sumarez added.
(with reports from CJ Torida, GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon & One Mindanao)
