‘Fetus mountain’ at Manila North Cemetery

Inside the Manila North Cemetery is a final resting place for unborn babies.

As seen in Vonne Aquino's report for "Balitanghali" on Thursday, the small, colorful tombs marked with birthdate-less gravestones have been stacked high.

Helen Castro, caretaker of the growing "fetus mountain" for more than 40 years, said she has not been able to keep track of how many unborn children were buried there.

Many of them were unwanted tots buried by parents who have not even bothered to visit.

"Minsan nga nandun 'yung talagang nilalaglag pagkatapos ililibing dito. Siyempre, hindi naman maurirat 'yung pamilya, ano," Castro said.

"Ayun, iiwanan na lang dito pagkatapos ng libing. Minsan nga hindi kasama mga magulang inillibing ng mga lola," she added.

According to the caretaker, a fetus could be buried in an apartment-type grave with a headstone, but some could only afford to fasten the child's small coffin with cement.

Castro said some just find empty spots to dig a hole and bury the baby in a bottle.

Some believe that cries reportedly heard around the Manila North Cemetery at midnight must have come from the children who were laid to rest without a priest's blessing.

"'Yung parang naghihirap na batang naghahanap ng pagmamahal ng magulang kaya minsan, iniisip nga namin siguro itong naririnig natin, baka hindi nabasbasan ng pari?" said Castro.

The Manila Police District (MPD) had in its custody 10 fetuses discovered in Manila this year, but never caught any perpetrators.

"Dito sa Manila Police District (MPD), wala pa kaming nahuli talaga na 'yung tao mismo na responsible doon," Police Senior Inspector Ana Lourence Simbajon of the MPD PIO said.

"'Yung mga nag-iwan, 'yung person na responsible, or 'yung nanay nu'ng bata, puwedeng makasuhan ng abortion," he added.

Domingo Dizon, one of the souls who came across the helpless, unborn children abandoned in such unkind environment, shared his tale.

"Natanaw ko po sa tabi ng basurahan. Naka-plastic po na ano...Nakabunyag na po siya. Nakita ko po na fetus kaya po binuhat ko po," he said. — Margaret Claire Layug/ LDF, GMA News