Agents of the Anti-Cybercrime Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP-ACG) arrested on Tuesday morning, Sept. 24, a 26-year old woman who sold her one-day old baby for P40,000 during an entrapment operation in Caloocan City.
PNP-ACG spokesperson Lt. Wallen Mae DS Arancillo said the operation stemmed from their cyberpatrol wherein one of their agents spotted a Facebook post about people who are interested in buying a baby.
“Our cybercops engaged the person who posted the message and she later agreed to sell her baby for P40,000,” said Arancillo.
The meeting place was in a lying-in clinic in Caloocan City where the suspect was arrested and her baby was rescued.
During the investigation, it was found out that the suspect gave birth to her first child on Monday, Sept. 23.
When asked why she agreed to sell her baby, the suspect said that she could not afford to raise the baby since she is jobless and that she could no longer contact the father.
The suspect added that she also needed the money to buy the maintenance medicine of her father whom she said was not aware of her situation.
Arancillo said the operation was part of the instruction of PNP-ACG director Maj. Gen. Ronnie Francis Cariaga amid reports of rampant online selling of babies.
“We have been receiving reports about rampant online selling of babies so our Director (Cariaga) ordered all our personnel to intensify the monitoring, intelligence-gathering and operation to address this problem,” said Arancillo.
In the case of the operation against the suspect, Arancillo said it was posted on a Facebook page with more than 3,500 followers. The same Facebook page is also offering abortion.
“This is very alarming specifically because there are babies involved. These babies are helpless and could not defend themselves and this is the reason why the ACG is focusing on this, to protect them,” said Arancillo.
The suspect now faces cases relating to r violation of Republic Act 9208 as amended by RA 10364 as further amended by RA 11862, particularly Sections 4(g) and 6(a) and (o) and RA 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act) in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012).
Cariaga, for his part, warned other mothers who are engaging in selling babies.
"As parents, it is our duty to provide a safe and nurturing environment for our children. Protecting their welfare is paramount. The illegal sale of infants is a serious crime, punishable by law, with severe penalties including fines and imprisonment,” said Cariaga.