DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur – A newborn baby boy found abandoned in a vacant lot in Purok Acasiahan, Barangay Zone 1, Digos City, has died despite desperate efforts by doctors to save his life, authorities confirmed Saturday.
The infant was discovered around 8:00 a.m. on January 9, 2026, by a resident who initially thought the sound of crying came from a kitten near their laundry area. The witness later saw a tiny foot protruding from a cellophane wrap and was shocked to realize it was a baby.
“He was still bleeding, with his umbilical cord attached. The child was already cold and weak,” the witness recounted.
Barangay Captain Jay Medina said the newborn was found inside the compound of a certain Romeo Jayral. The infant was wrapped in cellophane, with blood still visible on his body—clear signs, authorities said, that the baby had just been born and may have been premature.
Neighbors were immediately alerted, and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) rushed the baby to the Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital for emergency treatment.
Hospital Chief Dr. Jaime Razo revealed that the baby, estimated to be about 8.5 months in gestation, suffered two cardiac arrests before succumbing at 7:40 a.m. on January 10, 2026.
“Despite all efforts by our medical team, the infant did not survive,” Dr. Razo said.
Barangay officials and police have launched an investigation to identify and locate the child’s parents. Captain Medina strongly condemned the act and appealed to the responsible parties to surrender.
“This is a grave and inhuman act. If they could not care for the child, they could have given him up properly. Many couples are longing to have a baby,” Medina said.
Authorities stressed that abandoning a newborn is a serious crime and vowed to pursue charges against those responsible.
The tragic incident has sparked outrage and sorrow among residents, with many calling for justice for the defenseless child whose life was cut short just hours after being born.
Police continue to gather information and review leads that could help identify the parents of the abandoned infant.