A newborn baby was found dead in a drainage canal in Barangay UEP Zone II, Catarman, Northern Samar, early morning of October 6, 2025, in what authorities described as a tragic and disturbing case.
A newborn baby was found dead in a drainage canal in Barangay UEP Zone II, Catarman, Northern Samar, early morning of October 6, 2025, in what authorities described as a tragic and disturbing case.
According to police reports, the infant was discovered around 3:15 a.m. by residents who immediately alerted local authorities. Through footage captured by a nearby boarding house’s closed-circuit television (CCTV), investigators were able to identify the suspect believed to be the baby’s own mother, a college student from Palapag, Northern Samar who remained unnamed.
Initial investigation revealed that the suspect had been staying in a boarding house near the area.
The landlady told investigators she received a text message from the young woman at around 8:45 p.m. on October 5, asking if she had any medicine for dysmenorrhea.
The landlady replied that she did not, advising the student to buy some from a nearby store.
Later that night, the landlady said she saw the suspect enter the bathroom and heard sounds as if the woman was in pain.
Hours later, at around 3:15 a.m., CCTV footage showed the suspect leaving the boarding house carrying a plastic pail. Minutes after, she returned, this time with bloodstains on her slippers.
Authorities later traced the same drainage canal near the boarding house, where they found the lifeless body of a newborn baby. The discovery led police to identify the woman as the infant’s mother and the primary suspect in the case.
Police are now conducting a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances of the incident, including whether the baby was born alive before being discarded.
Investigators are also exploring possible motives and psychological factors that may have driven the suspect to commit the act.
The suspect is under police custody while awaiting the results of a medical examination and further questioning.
If proven guilty, she could face serious criminal charges related to infanticide or child abuse under Philippine law.
The heartbreaking case has shocked the local community and drawn attention to the growing issue of unplanned pregnancies among students in the province.
Authorities have urged the public to be more vigilant and to support young mothers facing crisis situations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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