A group of friends found a newborn abandoned in a grassy area in Murcia, Negros Occidental.

Carl Arpon and his friends were hunting for spiders in Barangay Salvacion evening on April 15, 2026 when they saw the child placed on a white cloth in a grassy area.

They thought initially it was just a doll until they saw the baby move and cry.

“Akala namin, manika lang. Nang nag-flashlight na kami, nakita namin ang tiyan niya, humihinga pa siya, umiyak siya. Na-confirm namin na bata,” Arpon said.

The group turned the child over immediately to the Murcia Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO).

Elizabeth Agudo, focal person of Murcia MSWDO, said the area where the baby was abandoned is remote, which may mean that whoever left the child did not want it found.

The child had many bite marks from ants but is now safe.

“Ibig sabihin, gusto niyang patayin ang kanyang anak. Wala kasing dumadaan diyan. Ang daming kagat ng langgam ang bata. Mino-minotor natin siya, naibigay na ang lahat ng laboratory at medicine para sa bata,” Agudo said.

The barangay has helped investigate the incident.

“Sa aming pag-iimbestiga, sa aming health center, wala kaming recorded na mga posible na nang-iwan sa sanggol diyan,” Agudo said.

Arpon has a message to whoever left the child:

“Sana matauhan ka na at huwag mo nang ulitin. Makonsensya ka. Ang karma at si God na ang bahala sa iyo,” he said.