One-day old infant found in garbage bin

CEBU, Philippines - A one-day old baby boy was found abandoned inside a garbage bin along Gen. Maxilom Ave. in Cebu City at 4 a.m. yesterday.

The 2.25-kilogram infant was found by Mary Brigilda, a garbage collector, who initially mistook him for a kitten.

He was brought to the Cebu City Medical Center.

Doctors find him healthy although his weight is below normal.

Brigilda, in a television interview, said she was collecting garbage at the vicinity of Cherry Court building on Mango Ave. when she heard what she thought was a crying kitten trapped in the garbage bin.

When she checked, she found a baby wrapped in a blanket.

She immediately informed the establishment’s security guard and both of them took the baby who still has an umbilical cord.

They called the Mobile Patrol Group and the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF).

PO1 Romeo Ramas, one of the responding personnel, said they failed to locate the woman, who was reportedly seen leaving the area crying prior to the discovery of the baby. The woman was believed to be the baby’s mother.

Paramedics of ERUF arrived, cut the baby’s umbilical cord and brought him to the CCMC.

Dr. Catherine Echevarrie, the attending physician, said the baby is generally healthy.

With the help of some mothers at the pediatric ward, the baby was breastfed yesterday, Echevarrie said.

The baby is also taking antibiotics to prevent infection considering that he was placed in a garbage bin.

He will be observed for 72 hours before the Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 can taked custody of the baby.

DSWD social worker Grace Subong said if the baby’s mother will come to their office to claim the baby, they will not just release him.

“She cannot just get the baby back because she already abandoned him,” Subong said.  (FREEMAN)