KORONADAL CITY — Health authorities in South Cotabato have sounded the alarm after confirming the province’s youngest recorded HIV case: a 7-year-old boy who tested positive through routine screening, according to the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO).
The revelation came during a weekly press briefing on December 4, 2025, where Disease Prevention and Control Unit Head John Arlo M. Codilla, RN, MMHeA, confirmed that the case is not inborn and not a result of mother-to-child transmission. Initial assessment strongly suggests sexual transmission, raising the chilling possibility that the child may have been a victim of sexual abuse.
Codilla said investigators are now conducting a deeper probe to determine how the child contracted the virus and who may be responsible. Authorities stressed that the case is being treated with utmost urgency due to the possibility of exploitation and ongoing risk.
The disturbing case adds to growing concerns over the rising number of HIV infections in the province. From January to September 2025, South Cotabato has already recorded 142 new reactive cases, pushing the province’s cumulative total to 1,278 — the highest in Region XII, according to the IPHO.
New infections were logged across Koronadal City, Polomolok, Tupi, Tampakan, Surallah, Banga, Lake Sebu, T’boli, and even among individuals with no fixed address. Officials warn that the spread is no longer concentrated in urban centers but is now affecting communities across the province.
As the investigation into the child’s case continues, the IPHO urgently reminds the public to stay vigilant, undergo regular HIV testing, seek immediate medical consultation, and report any suspected cases of abuse.
“This should alarm all of us,” Codilla emphasized. “HIV is preventable — but only if people act, get tested, and seek help.”
Authorities vow to pursue the case aggressively, calling on the community to cooperate in uncovering the truth behind this deeply troubling incident.