A newborn boy was rescued from a trash bag near a hospital in Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
A patient’s watcher found the baby and rushed the child to the hospital’s emergency room. The baby weighed 1.9 kilos, and his umbilical cord was still attached when found.
The baby has since been attended to.
“The baby boy was rescued immediately and nagawan ng paraan para malunasan yung bata. At the moment, ginagamot at binigyan na siya ng appropriate management and treatment ideal for newborn babies and exposed dito sa maruming environment kasi nga iniwan nga doon sa basurahan,” BARMM Health Minister, Dr. Kadil Sinolinding, Jr., said.
The hospital management said the mother of the baby, only 16 years old, sought help from the hospital earlier after experiencing stomach pain.
After nurses assessed her situation, she reportedly asked to use the restroom but never returned.
A hospital official said the girl may have given birth in the restroom and decided to leave the baby in the trash bag.
“Nagsabi yung mother, ‘pwede mag-CR muna ako?’ So pumasok siya sa CR, medyo 100 meters away from emergency since we are in the evacuation center, the women’s building ng Buluan. So pag-CR niya, nanganak siya sa CR. Hindi namin alam, nasa medical, na may nangangak na sa CR. Pagkapanganak niya, nilagay niya sa basurahan yung baby. Umuwi siya ng bahay,” Buluan District Hospital Chief of Professional Medical Staff, Dr. Noriza Mangansakan-Midtimbang, said.
Later, the mother went back to the hospital due to bleeding.
“Later, bumalik sa ospital because of bleeding. Hindi pa yata completed pa yung delivery at yun naman ay ginagawa ng doctors ng paraan upang ma-save yung buhay ng nanay,” Sinolinding added.
The mother and the baby are now under medical care and receiving assistance from the local government, including milk, diapers, and other necessities.
Considering that the mother is still a minor, the BARMM Ministry of Health reminded parents to be more attentive to their children, especially teenagers. The parents reportedly did not know that their 16-year-old child was pregnant.
“The mother is allegedly single and hindi daw nila alam na pregnant ang kanilang anak. So, yan ay isang malaking mensahe sa ating mga magulang na wag nating hayaan, wag nating pabayaan yung ating mga anak na to the point na hindi na natin alam kung ano ang nangyayari sa kanyang buhay,” Sinolinding said.
