Hunt for mother of baby in bin

Manama, September 14, 2010

Philippine officials are searching for the mother of a newborn boy found in the toilet bin of a Gulf Air flight.

They announced that authorities are also looking into the national carrier's flight manifesto to help locate the mother.

But they said they are giving her a chance to come forward and claim her son back, according to Reuters.

The baby boy, George Francis, named after Gulf Air's airline codes 'GF' was found abandoned in a toilet waste bin aboard the plane, after it landed at Manila International Airport, in the Philippines, on Sunday.

Cleaners for the airline's handling agents found the 3kg baby, covered in blood and wrapped in tissues with his umbilical cord still attached, as they got the plane ready for its return to Bahrain.

The officials yesterday confirmed the newborn was in good health and is under the care of social workers.

'The baby is now under our care,' said Department of Social Welfare and Development official Celia Yangco.

'We'll look for his mother. We're giving his mother a chance to come forward.'

Radio stations in Manila were swamped with offers to adopt the boy but Yangco said the government is trying to find the mother first.

'We have a process to follow before the baby is declared abandoned and set for adoption,' said Yangco.

She added that the state's policy is to keep the family together.

Meanwhile, Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport assistant general manger Octavio Lina revealed authorities have started searching Gulf Air's flight manifest to help identify the mother.

Tags: Gulf Air | Philippines | baby | bin |