Dead baby, fetus found in Mandaluyong

MANILA, Philippines – The body of a newborn girl and a male fetus, both placed inside plastic bags, were recovered at a mall restroom and in front of a retail outlet in Mandaluyong City over the past two days, police said yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Carlos de Sagun, Mandaluyong City police chief, said they are looking for witnesses who could identify the persons who left the bodies.

De Sagun said the newborn girl still had her umbilical cord attached, while the male fetus was about seven months old.

Janitress Janet Constantino reported finding the male fetus at the women’s restroom of a mall at the corner of Shaw Boulevard and EDSA at around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Four hours later, Ruben Belledo and Michael Tawatao, security guards of the FMF Compound along Pioneer street, noticed a plastic bag in front of the Regalong Pambata outlet store.

When they opened the bag, the two men found the body of the newborn girl inside. They reported their find to the city police.

Police officers turned over the bodies to the Gospel Funeraria Services along Aglipay street in Barangay Poblacion.

The bodies were recovered at a time the Aquino government and the Catholic church are locked in a bitter dispute over the reproductive health bill.