Davao City – Outrage and grief continue to swell after a heartbreaking incident involving a newborn baby boy who was initially declared dead at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), only to be later discovered alive inside a taped carton. The infant, described by relatives as a “miracle baby,” eventually passed away in the early hours of August 25, 2025.
According to the baby’s family, the mother gave birth at dawn on August 23 at SPMC. Doctors reportedly declared the infant dead and instructed the family to immediately claim the body, allegedly warning that it would “start to smell.” The child was then released from the hospital placed inside a carton sealed with tape.
At around 2:00 p.m. that same day, when the family opened the carton upon arriving at their residence in Purok 6, Gumalang, Baguio District, they were shocked to discover that the baby was alive—moving, breathing, and even crying. The family rushed him back to the hospital for treatment and incubation.
A relative’s emotional social media post went viral, describing the agony of seeing the baby fight for survival after being left sealed inside a box for hours. “They declared him dead when he was alive. Imagine how long the baby suffered inside that carton. If not for that, maybe he would have lived,” the post read.
Despite being placed under medical care, the baby’s condition deteriorated. On August 25, two days after the ordeal, the family confirmed that the infant had died. His remains have since been brought to a funeral home in Calinan, Davao City.
The mother of the child remains under treatment at SPMC and is reportedly in stable condition after receiving a blood transfusion.
The incident has sparked widespread public anger, with calls for accountability from the hospital and attending medical staff. Many netizens branded the mishandling as “criminal negligence,” demanding that the case be investigated to determine whether malpractice, neglect, or systemic lapses were to blame.
As of press time, the Southern Philippines Medical Center has yet to issue a detailed statement on the matter.
The central question remains: Who is responsible for declaring the newborn dead, releasing him in a sealed carton, and allowing him to endure hours of suffering before proper care was given?