Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas is calling on mothers to spare their newborns from abandonment, saying that no mistake or hardship justifies leaving an innocent life behind on the streets.
Her appeal follows a series of deeply disturbing incidents reported over the past weeks, where infants were found either lifeless or barely clinging to life after being abandoned in public places.
On July 28, a fetus inside a plastic bag was discovered in front of the Tanza Bonifacio Health Center.
Just two days later, July 30, a newborn was found alive along Zamora Street in Barangay Concepcion. The baby, still attached to its umbilical cord and wrapped only in a jacket, was left on the roadside.
On August 3, a decomposing infant was discovered in Oñate de Leon, Mandurriao.
“These children are angels. They are not just angels to their families but to our entire community,” Mayor Treñas said in an emotional statement. “Please, do not abandon your babies. Even if your pregnancy was unexpected or you feel you’ve made a mistake, do not take it out on your child.”
The mayor reminded struggling parents that they have options.
Those who feel they cannot raise a child can legally and safely surrender their babies to the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), located in Molo, where social workers are trained to provide care and support.
“If you feel you can’t handle it anymore, go to the CSWDO. You can leave your child there. We are here to help,” Treñas said. “We cannot allow helpless infants to be left to die when there are systems in place to care for them.”
Authorities have already identified the mother in the July 30 case.
According to Police Captain Melchor Tolentino of Iloilo City Police Station 1, investigators were able to trace her movements through CCTV footage and the cooperation of barangay officials and the CSWDO.
The woman, known only as “Inday,” is a 25-year-old e-bike driver temporarily residing in Boulevard, Molo.
Social workers have assessed that she is suffering from mental health issues and identifies as lesbian.
The abandoned baby in her case survived and is currently under medical care at the Western Visayas Medical Center, where doctors are treating the child for infection.IMT
