Miracle in Iloilo: Abandoned newborn found alive inside shopping bag hanging on bamboo gate
- A newborn baby girl was rescued after being found inside a shopping bag hanging from a bamboo gate in Santa Barbara, Iloilo
- Local rescuers were moved to tears when the infant, found on Jan. 20, 2026, smiled at them immediately upon being discovered
- Police suspect the person responsible is not a local resident, as there were no recent pregnancies reported in the village
- The infant is currently in stable condition at the Western Visayas Sanitarium while authorities pursue child abuse charges
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In a moving display of resilience, a newborn baby girl was found alive and unexpectedly cheerful after being abandoned inside a shopping bag in Santa Barbara, Iloilo.
Source: Facebook
The infant, discovered hanging from a bamboo gate in Barangay Cabugao Sur on Tuesday evening, January 20, 2026, reportedly greeted her rescuers with a smile despite the cold conditions.
The discovery was made by a local couple passing through the area late at night. They were drawn to a reusable shopping bag suspended from a bamboo fence.
Upon inspecting the contents, they were shocked to find a moving bundle inside.
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Ernesto Latoza Jr., a local barangay tanod (watchman), recounted the emotional moment of the rescue.
"When we opened the bag, the baby was smiling at us. She was moving and appeared completely normal," he shared in a local interview.
The immediate health of the child brought a sense of relief to the responding Barangay Health Workers (BHW), who initially feared the worst given the infant's exposure to the elements.
Following her rescue, the baby was immediately rushed to the local health center for an initial assessment.
To ensure her long-term safety and recovery, she was later transferred to the Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital for specialized pediatric monitoring.
Medical staff confirmed that the child is stable, though they continue to run tests to ensure she suffered no ill effects from being left outdoors.
Local law enforcement has launched a formal investigation, though they face significant hurdles.
Preliminary checks with Barangay Cabugao Sur officials revealed that there were no recorded pregnant women or expected births in the immediate vicinity prior to the discovery.
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This has led investigators to believe the person who left the child may be a transient or a resident of a neighboring town.
The lack of CCTV surveillance in the rural area where the baby was found has further complicated efforts to identify the perpetrator.
Police are currently appealing to the public for any information regarding suspicious vehicles or individuals seen in the area on Tuesday night.
The Santa Barbara Police warned that those responsible for the abandonment face severe legal repercussions.
Under Republic Act 7610, also known as the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act, the act of abandoning a child is a criminal offense punishable by significant prison time.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has been notified to facilitate the child's future care and potential adoption proceedings.
In other news, a violent encounter between a heavy dump truck and a public jeepney on January 21, 2026, resulted in the immediate deaths of three individuals and left several others hospitalized in Isabela. Security video captured the harrowing moment the truck skidded on a rain-slicked highway, losing traction before veering sharply into the path of the oncoming passenger vehicle. The fatalities included a young student, a patient traveling for medical treatment, and a woman whose life was cut short on her birthday due to the force of the crash. In response to the tragedy, the LTFRB has summoned the jeepney's management for a safety review while working to facilitate ₱400,000 in survival benefits for the grieving families.
Meanwhile, a routine legal transfer in Virac turned chaotic when a suspect from Pandan tried to bolt from his handlers during an escort to a preliminary hearing. After a foot chase proved unsuccessful in stopping the fleeing man, law enforcement officers discharged a round into the suspect's knee to neutralize the escape attempt. The incident has triggered a dual-track investigation: the detainee faces new charges for evasion, while the officer’s use of a firearm is being reviewed for procedural compliance. The wounded individual was promptly detained and taken to a hospital for surgery; he remains under heavy guard as authorities re-evaluate prisoner transport protocols.
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Source: KAMI.com.gh
