BY: ANGELICA ARQUERO
Residents of Lower Bengao in Barangay Bakakeng Central, Baguio City were shocked when a baby boy’s lifeless body was found behind a bathroom in a private yard on June 12.
The infant’s body was discovered by a homeowner after she saw her dog appearing to gnaw on something in the backyard.
“I came out that morning and someone told me a baby was found near that house. My child called Station 10 right away,” said Juan Guliman, a local resident. “They placed the baby in a small box and brought it up to the roadside.”
Upon closer inspection, residents were further horrified to notice the baby’s arm was missing, believed to have been chewed off by the dog.
“We usually keep our dogs tied at night, but it looks like one of them found the body first,” Guliman added. “Even the police didn’t find the missing arm, so they said the dog probably ate it.”
Police Major Marcy Grace Marron, public information officer of the Baguio City Police Office, confirmed that the dog was first seen eating what appeared to be a fetus.
“The homeowner was feeding her dog when she saw it eating something in the backyard. When she checked, she realized it was a fetus,” Marron said.
The fetus was estimated to be around six to seven months old. It was brought to a funeral home and later buried at Baguio Public Cemetery.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said Barangay Police Officer Sofia Lucante. “You carried that child for months only to throw him away like that.”
Authorities are now investigating to identify the parents of the baby.
Under the Revised Penal Code, anyone found guilty could face two to six years in prison.
“Our investigators have coordinated with the health department to check if any women had prenatal check-ups around that gestational age. We’re also interviewing neighbors,” Marron added.
She also urged pregnant women struggling emotionally or financially to seek help. “Please know that help is available, both from the government and private groups. Taking a life is never the answer.”
This is the second reported case of an abandoned infant in Baguio City this year.
