Abandoned baby is a blessing for childless couple

JOGGERS found her wrapped in three large T-shirts.

The newborn baby girl was abandoned in an empty police outpost in Argao town, southern Cebu, Argao, at dawn.

Jacqueline Gil told police that she was out jogging with her friend Arlene Sardalla about 5:30 a.m. for their daily exercise when she saw a young woman sitting inside the vacant police outpost in barangay Poblacion near the national highway and Don Gil Street.

A few minutes later, the woman, who had long hair and looked less than 21 years old, disappeared.

Gil’s attention was caught by the cries of a baby.

Lying on the floor was the infant with her umbilical cord exposed and covered with fresh blood.

A BLESSING

The baby, in healthy condition, was turned over to the Isidro Kintaranr Memorial Hospital in Argao town.

Her discovery was the happiest news for a policeman and his policewoman-wife, who have long wanted to have a child.

“We asked the DSWD to let us be the foster parents for now,” SP02 Ramuel Banogon, 39, told Cebu Daily News.

The childless couple had been married for 13 years.

A phone call from a friend, PO2 Marvin Chen past 6 a.m. about the abandoned baby sent the policeman and his wife, SPO2 Darlene Banogon, 38, straight to the hospital.

Ramuel is assigned in the Argao police station while his wife Darlene is assigned in the Sibonga police station.

He said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) allowed them to take care of the infant for three months.

If the mother doesn’t come forward to claim the baby, the agency can start court proceedings to declare the child officially abandoned in favor of the State.

For now, the baby girl was placed in an incubator with her eyes bandaged to protect it from the bright light in the hospital.

“She will undergo a “newborn screening” today . We will be her foster parents for three months. If nobody will claim her, we can apply for adoption,” said Ramuel.

DSWD personnel, however, earlier advised that parents have to be screened and qualified first, and that applicants cannot chose which child they can adopt.

When asked about the baby’s name, Banogon said he and his wife haven’t come up one yet.

“We just thank God for the baby,” he said.  CORRESPONDENT RHEA RUTH V. ROSELL