A one-year-old baby was rescued by authorities after her own mother attempted to sell her for P8,000 in Pasig City.

The Philippine National Police–Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) immediately conducted an operation following the discovery of a Facebook post in which the mother allegedly offered a child for supposed adoption in exchange for money.

On Jan. 14, through an undercover engagement, a cyber patroller communicated with the suspect via Facebook Messenger, during which the suspect allegedly agreed to sell the child for P8,000, which resulted in her arrest.

PNP-ACG Acting Director Brig. Gen. Wilson Asueta said that operatives made an initial payment to the suspect prior to the meetup to facilitate the arrangement.

Based on the investigation, the suspect reportedly has seven children and is unemployed, prompting her to allegedly attempt to sell one of them in exchange for money.

Authorities also discovered that this was not the first time the suspect had sold one of her children, as one child had allegedly already been sold.

“According to the initial report, may seven children na siya. Ang isa nga raw dito ay naibenta na rin. Yung ibang anak niya ay nasa kustodiya ata ng kaniyang mga relatives (According to the initial report, the suspect has seven children, one of whom had reportedly already been sold, while the others are allegedly under the custody of her relatives),” Asueta said.

Authorities are also locating the child’s father, who may reportedly be unaware that the child was being sold.

Asueta said that failing to follow the legal process can put the child at risk, as there is no assurance that the child will be placed in a safe environment. He added that the child could later be exploited, including for organ trafficking or other purposes.

Meanwhile, authorities warned against selling one’s own child, stressing that it is prohibited by law.

“Ang anak ay hindi ari-arian na anytime p'wede natin ibenta. Kung gusto natin ng adoption, meron tayong dapat lapitan na ahensiya ng gobyerno. Meron tayong legal process for adoption (A child is not property that can be sold at any time. If we want to pursue adoption, we must approach the appropriate government agencies. There is a legal process for adoption),” Asueta said.

The child is now under the care of the Pasig City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), while the mother has been arrested and is facing charges for violating the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.