6-month-old fetus found in Malacañang toilet
By Michael Lim Ubac, Tina Santos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:09:00 01/17/2008
Filed Under: Local authorities
MANILA, Philippines – A 6-month-old fetus was found yesterday in one of the toilets in the four-story National Executive Building (NEB) in Malacañang.
The fetus found by Mark Maningas, a janitor, was brought to nearby St. Jude Parish Church and blessed by a priest before it was sent to Funeraria Popular.
Presidential Security Group (PSG) chief Gen. Romeo Prestoza handed over the case to the Manila Police District for investigation.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye also ordered an investigation.
Maningas found the fetus wrapped in a blue plastic bag at 8:15 a.m. while doing routine cleaning of the third of four cubicles in the women’s comfort room on the ground floor.
The toilet is used primarily by reporters and staff members of the presidential news desk.
The janitor said he was cleaning the toilet when he noticed a small plastic bag clogging one of the toilet bowls. Failing to flush it, he opened the bag and was shocked by what he found.
Maningas reported his find to his superiors and to security guard Mario Sumundong who, in turn, informed the PSG.
Prestoza hinted that police were trying to identify the mother.
But some members of the Manila Police District homicide division, who will investigate the case, claimed they were barred from entering the Malacañang premises.
Authorities said they were checking closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage. “The janitor (and guards) said all they know is a woman was there around 6 a.m. yesterday,” said the general. He refused to say whether or not the mother was employed in Malacañang. The NEB, which is beside the Premier Guest House, houses the offices of the Press Secretary, Presidential Legal Counsel and Presidential Media Affairs.
“We hold every human life sacred,” said Bunye. “We pray for the soul of this innocent child and hope that whoever was responsible for this, realizes the gravity of this deed and seek atonement.”
Deputy presidential spokesperson Anthony Golez, a doctor, pointed out that many couples were eager to have children.
The person who dumped the fetus could have asked any of these couples, he said, to adopt the child.
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