The Philippine National Police (PNP) rescued a one-month-old baby that was allegedly sold on Facebook by the infant’s guardian for P90,000, revealing what could be one of the darkest and most disturbing money-making modus operandi on the internet.

The PNP Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) carried out the entrapment operation in Pasay City last July 3.

The National Authority for Child Care (NACC), which joined the covert operation, lambasted the continued sale of babies despite the stern warning issued by the government.

“To sell a child for monetary relief is an immoral, irresponsible and selfish act. A parent who thinks s/he is incapable of raising a child may easily seek support from the barangay women’s desk, or the Local Social Welfare and Development Office. Huwag na po sanang pagkakitaan at ilagay sa panganib ang bata (Let’s not exploit the child or put them in danger),” said NACC Undersecretary Janella Ejercito Estrada.

The PNP WCPC has intensified its operation against the illegal sale of babies online.

So far, it has rescued 11 children and arrested 16 perpetrators this year. One of those arrested was convicted of the crime.

As of June 16, the PNP WCPC said it has monitored 12 Facebook groups that are actively facilitating “online baby selling”. The said online pages have a cumulative 200,000 followers, underscoring the depth of their range and influence on social media.

“I appeal to Meta PH to help us stop the proliferation of Facebook groups facilitating ‘online baby selling’ and other forms of illegal adoption. This is no longer a matter of technicality, but a moral obligation expected from a social networking platform operating in the Philippines,” Estrada stressed.

Meanwhile, the NACC has convened its Inter-Agency on Adoption and Alternative Child Care last week to “forge a coordinated, legal, and systemic response against illicit practices of illegal adoption including ‘online baby selling.’”

Estrada urged the members of te inter-agency to “confront one of the most disturbing and fast-evolving threats to child welfare.”

“Children are being commodified on social media platforms. What was once hidden is now disturbingly compromising a child’s rights to identity, safety, and a family,” she said.

NACC Assistant Secretary for Operations and Services Rowena M. Macalintal requested the Department of Justice (DOJ) for access to biological parents who have been put behind bars to enable the Agency to initiate the process of finding the best and most suitable alternative child care for the rescued children.

Among the participating agencies are the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), PNP WCPC, PNP Women and Children Cybercrime Protection Unit (WCCPU), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Information and Communications Technology – Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (DICT-CICC), Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).