Mom has 3 months to claim 'Gulf Air' baby

MANILA, Philippines (1st UPDATE) - Authorities of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) are tracing the mother of "George Francis," the newborn baby left alone in a plane on Sunday. Citing information from Gulf Air, NAIA officials said blood spots were found on seat no. 40-D. A woman, who was traveling alone, was on this seat in the airline's flight from Bahrain. She was the 80th passenger on the flight.

Spotting, or light bleeding similar to a menstrual period, usually happens during pregnancy and may mean a pre-term birth or a miscarriage.
George Francis was presumably born aboard the Manila-bound Gulf Air flight on Sunday.
Officials of NAIA Terminal 1, the airport where the Gulf Air flight landed, shared that the mother left the plane immediately after landing.
Local airport officials scored Gulf Air for refusing to cooperate in the investigation of the incident.
They noted that previously, the airline reportedly didn't investigate the death of another newborn baby during one of its flights.
The Aviation Security Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has started investigating the incident. Authorities are reviewing the CCTV camera recordings and flight manifest.

3 months

George Francis, named by airport medical staff based on Gulf Air's code "GF," is currently under the care and custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Delia Bawan, assistant regional director for administration of DSWD-National Capital Region, earlier said the mother on board the Manila-bound Gulf Air flight from Saudi Arabia has 3 months to claim her newborn baby.
"(The mother should be able to claim her child) Within 3 months as provided by law," Bawan said in an interview at ANC's Dateline Philippines on Monday.
She continued, "Kung may mag-claim, i-accept namin. Kung wala naman, tuloy-tuloy ang proseso para i-declare na abandoned ang bata. The secretary then certifies that the child is free for adoption."
Most women who are late into their pregnancy are usually not allowed to travel whether by air or sea.
Asked why George Francis' mother was able to get into the Gulf Air flight, Bawan said, "Nasa immigration na kung tinatanggap nila 'yung ganoong sasakay ng eroplano. Ang goal lang namin is ipaalam sa public na may ganitong bata na nasa aming pangangalaga."
In the meantime, the DSWD official said they will "do everything para mapanatili ang kanyang kalusugan at maprotektahan siya."