DNA tests confirm Gulf Air baby's mom

MANILA, Philippines - DNA tests have confirmed that the overseas Filipino worker from Apayao is the mother of George Francis, the baby found inside the lavatory of a Gulf Air flight to Manila last month, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said yesterday.

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said the mother will be reunited with her baby in the coming days.                

“The mother affirmed her desire to see and get Baby George,” she said. The husband has also expressed willingness to adopt the child. “The husband has forgiven the mother and he is willing to adopt Baby George,” Soliman said.

“If (adoption by him is) not possible, he prefers the eldest sister of the alleged mother and her husband to be given priority to adopt Baby George.”             

DSWD-National Capital Region director Thelsa Biloena said the turnover of the child to his mother would be postponed this week because the baby has sore eyes.                                              

Biloena said the DSWD will give financial assistance of P5,000 to the mother’s family.

They will also continue to provide counseling to the family to help them accept and understand the mother’s situation. At this point, adoption of George Francis by other couples is unlikely.       

Soliman said barangay officials in the province were also advised not to discuss the mother’s case. DSWD also recommended that no charges be filed against the mother for abandoning the child because she was also a victim of sexual abuse by her employer.