BAUANG, La Union — The discovery of 43 fetus shocked townsfolk here last week, after a couple occupied an old house left unkempt for nine years.

Three weeks ago, Shirley Garcia Miranda, 35, and Nomer Gorospe, 38, decided to go home for good at the former’s grandfather’s old house in Quinavite, Bauang, La Union.

Alfredo Delim Garcia, Miranda’s grandfather died in 1999 and the house has been left since then.

Early morning of June 19, Gorospe accidentally unearthed a jar in the corner of the huge built-in altar inside the house. He was shocked to find a preserved fetus inside.

“Parang six to seven months na yung fetus kasi nakikita na ‘yung mga features ng isang baby,” (The fetus might be six to seven months old because it shows a baby’s features) said Gorospe, a native of Eastern Samar.

Gorospe buried the fetus in the backyard as a neighbor suggested. A foul smell prompted him to check the “burial site” and found two more fetuses, one placed in a big green bowl, another in a small coffee glass.

After reporting the incident to local police, the couple brought the three fetuses to the Catholic Church for blessing and later buried them beside their grandfather’s tomb at the Municipal Cemetery.

The following day, members of the PNP Bauang and the barangay tanod (village sentry) inspected the old house and dug out 40 more fetuses, all in glass jars and preserved with formalin.

Many relatives and neighbors were shocked with the discovery at the house that was abandoned nine years ago.

“Nalaing a mang-iilot ken albularyo diay lolo mi idi sibibiag, nabayag a mangnga-agas ken adu napaimbag na,” (Granpa was a seasoned masseuse and herbalist and has cure many) said one of the old man’s granddaughters who requested not to be named.

“Nasingpet ni Lolo Fred, amin kami nga agkakabaranggay awan makuna mi kaniana,” (Lolo Fred is so kind and we have no complaints against him) a neighbor said. “Nakellaat kami laengen ta adda dagita a nabirbirukan da,” (We were surprised to see those discoveries) she added, referring to the preserved fetuses that insinuate an abortionist could have buried them there.

“Awan kaamuan mi nga adda dagita a fetus ditoy balay ken awan pulos naistorya ni Lolo mi idi,” (We had no knowledge of the fetuses. The old man did not tell us anything then.) Miranda added, who lived with her grandfather when he was still alive.

All 43 fetus were buried at the municipal cemetery after Msgr. Gregorio Nillo offered appropriate death rites.

When asked if the couple would still stay at the old house after the fetuses were found, Miranda said, “Awan met pagyanan mi ken awan met siguron ti makita pay,” (We have no other place to stay and we are confident there are no new finds anymore.) # JDiaz and RLlarenas