Highway rescue: DSWD steps in after mom leaves one-year-old child beside busy road
- A one-year-old child was rescued from the Tabalong highway in Bohol after being abandoned by her mother during a domestic dispute
- The mother allegedly left the child to force her live-in partner to skip work and attend the toddler's first birthday celebration
- The DSWD has placed the infant under the temporary custody of the paternal grandfather while a psychological assessment is conducted
- Authorities are currently evaluating possible child maltreatment charges against the mother for endangering the minor's life on a busy highway
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A heart-stopping scene along a Bohol highway on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, has led to a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) intervention after a one-year-old toddler was found abandoned on the roadside.
Source: Facebook
The incident, which occurred in Barangay Tabalong, Dauis, reportedly stemmed from a domestic dispute where the mother used the child as a "bargaining chip" to capture her partner's attention.
The alarm was raised when motorists spotted the young child crawling alone and occasionally sitting on the shoulder of the busy national highway.
Dashcam footage of the incident quickly went viral, showing the vulnerability of the infant amidst passing vehicles.
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Concerned citizens immediately stopped to protect the child and alerted the Dauis Municipal Police Station.
Investigations by the Dauis PNP revealed a troubling motive behind the abandonment.
According to Police reports, the minor mother was deeply upset that her live-in partner chose to report for work instead of staying home to celebrate their child’s first birthday—which coincided with the day of the incident.
In an emotional outburst, she allegedly left the baby on the highway shoulder, hoping the father would abandon his work shift to attend to the "emergency."
Following the rescue, the DSWD and local social workers immediately took jurisdiction over the case.
As of Wednesday morning, the child has been placed in the temporary custody of her paternal grandfather.
Social workers are currently conducting a comprehensive psychosocial assessment of the minor mother and the household environment to determine if the child can safely return to the parental home or if a more permanent alternative care arrangement is required.
Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro, representing the Palace’s stance on child welfare, emphasized that the government maintains a zero-tolerance policy for child endangerment.
"No domestic conflict justifies putting a minor’s life in peril," officials stated, adding that the Dauis PNP is currently studying the filing of charges under Republic Act 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
The incident has sparked a wider conversation regarding parental responsibility and mental health support for young parents.
While the child is reported to be in good physical health, the DSWD continues its monitoring to ensure that the "birthday" that started in a near-tragedy does not leave lasting scars on the infant’s welfare.
In other news, investigators in Quezon City are actively searching for an unidentified man who gained entry to a Novaliches SPED center on Tuesday morning to steal a smartphone and a tablet. Security footage reveals the perpetrator loitering among waiting guardians, patiently identifying a window of opportunity to seize approximately P20,000 worth of electronics containing sensitive educational records. Shortly after the physical theft, the assailant accessed the victim’s messaging accounts to impersonate the employee, soliciting fraudulent cash transfers from the victim’s relatives via e-wallets. Local village officials have classified the suspect as a "dayo" (outsider) after extensive neighborhood reviews confirmed that the man’s face is not recognized by long-term residents of the area.
Still in other news, a 26-year-old man operating a large truck was hospitalized on Wednesday morning after losing control and plowing into a series of concrete dividers and traffic cones at the EDSA-Quezon Avenue junction. The violent impact propelled heavy fragments of concrete across the highway, causing collateral damage to a passenger bus and a private sedan that were traveling nearby. First responders on the scene noted a strong odor of alcohol on the driver, who reportedly admitted to drinking before getting behind the wheel during the initial medical assessment. While the roadway was cleared and returned to standard traffic flow before the morning rush hour, the incident sparked renewed calls for stricter enforcement of the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act.
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Source: KAMI.com.gh
