BALANGA CITY – A family of fishermen discovered a male fetus, believed already seven months old, floating at the side of a big river near their house in Tortugas, a fishing village here at 2 in the afternoon of Wednesday.
“Naharangan ng kahoy sa ilalim ng tisik na kawayan kaya hindi na natangay ng agos papuntang dagat,” houseowner Lenny Manlapat said. She said they placed the fetus inside a paper box and informed barangay officials about it.
The bamboo posts serve as dock for Manlapat’s fishing banca at the Tortugas River. “Pakati tubig kaya sa bandang itaas nanggaling ang fetus,” resident Joure Ramirez said as he pointed to a piece of plastic paper below the bamboo berth where the fetus was fished out.
Barangay health worker Ruby Cruz named the fetus Joseph Cruz. She acted as ninang during the last rite administered by a priest of the Aglipay Church.
“Pinabendisyon namin sa pari at ipapalibing ng maayos,” Cruz said in the company of barangay officials. “Masakit para sa tulad kong ina ang makakita sa ganitong kalagayan ng isang bata,” Cruz said.
She said that the Balanga City police was in the process of investigation where the fetus came from and the possibility of identifying the mother.
