Baby abandoned then saved in Cebu during Ruby

MANILA, Philippines – A newborn baby girl was rescued in the municipality of Liloan in Cebu province on Sunday, December 7, after her mother tried to drop her off at a church at the height of Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit).

In a phone interview with Rappler, Liloan Mayor Duke Frasco said a church caretaker brought the baby to the municipality’s social welfare office. A woman had supposedly “found” the baby at the church at around 9 am.

But officials noticed that the woman was pale and was giving inconsistent answers to their questions. She then started to bleed, and later broke down and admitted that she was the mother, Frasco said.

“Apparently, the baby girl was born around 7 am today. [The mother] was planning to turn over the baby to one of the nuns,” Frasco said.

The mayor also expressed relief that the baby was found to be healthy despite being dropped off in bleak conditions.

“When the baby was dropped off, she was just in an SM shopping bag. She was swaddled, but in that shopping bag. Supposedly that’s how the mother ‘found’ her,” Frasco said.

He later posted a photo on Instagram showing the little girl wrapped snugly in a blanket and surrounded by members of the city’s social welfare office. Doctors named her “Ruby,” after the storm that is currently sweeping through central Philippines.

ByMayor @dukefrasco:abandonedbaby @ #RubyPH saved@ #Liloan #cebu @cnnireport @rapplerdotcom @natashya_g @ayeemacaraig pic.twitter.com/pUngKcn5Eq

— Christina G Frasco (@christinafrasco) December 7, 2014

In the post, Frasco wrote: “My heart aches for this beautiful newborn baby girl abandoned at the height of typhoon #RubyPH. She was turned over to the #Liloan Municipal Social Welfare Office where her vital signs/health were checked by our doctors. Thankfully, she appears to be in good health.” 

Frasco said the baby’s grandmother was already contacted, and was willing to take custody of the baby.

“I couldn’t believe that it happened on the same day that we had this huge typhoon. My heart aches for the baby, that it had to happen to her,” he said.

The province of Cebu is currently under storm signal number 2, but Frasco said that there has been no casualty reported in his municipality.

Around 1,000 families have been evacuated as a safety precaution, and officials are working to deploy relief packs to evacuees, he added. – Rappler.com