DSWD warns public vs 48 'fake' FB accounts facilitating online adoption
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) warned Saturday, Feb. 6, the public against 48 “fake” Facebook accounts facilitating illegal adoption.

Director Wilma Naviamos of the DSWD's Program Management Bureau (PMB) confirmed the existence of the social media accounts propagating illegitimate adoption in the country.
"DSWD has actually monitored 48 fake FB accounts na nagsasabi ng (that are encouraging) online adoption. We have reported this and coordinated with NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) and the police authorities authorities to track these identified fake FBI accounts,” she said In a virtual media forum dubbed “Family for Children in Need Amidst the Pandemic: Support to Adoption Implementation During the Time of COVID-19” as part of the week-long Adoption Consciousness Celebration (ACC) from Feb. 6 to 12.
The DSWD official reminded that no legal adoption must ever take place through social media or any other means, explaining that the process of legal adoption must start through legitimate Child Caring or Placing organizations or Local Social Welfare Offices and then through the DSWD.
"Gusto po namin ipaalam sa lahat na 'wag po tayong mag engage dito sa fake FB accounts na online ang adoption. Hindi po natin i-eencourage because that is illegal (We would like to inform everybody not to engaged with these FB fake accounts on online adoption. We are not encouraging this because it is illegal.),” Naviamos stressed.
As it leads the ACC, the DSWD encouraged the public to spread unconditional love through legal adoption.
"DSWD will continue to intensify the advocacy efforts to promote legal adoption as the only way to safeguard the best interest of abandoned, neglected, orphaned, and surrendered children,” it said.
The theme of this year’s celebration is Pagmamahal Palaganapin, Legal na Pag-aampon Ating Gawin! (Spread Unconditional Love Through Legal Adoption).
The DSWD reminded families to undergo legal adoption to protect the welfare of their adopted children.
Legal adoption is the only way to ensure that adopted children will have the same rights as that of biological children, it stressed.