A newborn baby boy was discovered lifeless in an irrigation canal at Barangay Tagwa, Lupon, Davao Oriental, on March 11, around 9:30 a.m., shocking nearby residents and workers who frequent the area daily.
Local worker Roldan Barila, 52, first saw the baby while performing his routine maintenance near the water conduit and immediately reported the incident to authorities.
Barila described noticing the infant floating in the water, initially mistaking him for a doll before realizing the child was lifeless and abandoned.
He also speculated that the mother did not reside in the immediate area, and the person responsible for leaving the baby remains unknown to neighbors.
The incident quickly gained public attention when Jonathan Villaces posted a video of the scene on social media, triggering outrage and condemnation from netizens nationwide.
Police Lieutenant Brix De Laserna, acting chief of the Lupon Municipal Police Station, called on anyone with information about the newborn’s mother or witnesses to coordinate immediately with the authorities.
Authorities warned that legal consequences could apply to anyone involved in abandoning or harming the baby, including potential charges of infanticide under Philippine law.
Officials also reminded the public of the moral and legal responsibility of parents or guardians to protect newborns, emphasizing societal accountability for such incidents.
The investigation continues as police gather testimonies, examine the area, and urge the community to assist in identifying the responsible parties.
For now, authorities continue their search for information while the tragic case serves as a warning about child safety and protection.
