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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Woman convicted for attempt to sell 11-day-old baby online

Woman convicted for attempt to sell 11-day-old baby online

Published Feb 5, 2026 04:25 pm
A woman has been convicted by a Quezon City regional trial court (RTC) for attempts to sell an 11-day-old baby online, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Thursday, Feb. 5.
In a statement, the DOJ said the RTC has issued an order that accepted the guilty plea of Mary Grace D. Espinar for two counts of attempt to commit child trafficking under Section 6(e) of Republic Act (RA) 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
With the guilty plea, the DOJ also said that Espinar was sentenced to six years of imprisonment for each count “to be served successively.”
It said the trial court’s ruling “highlights the DOJ’s relentless campaign to defend children from abuse in line with the Bagong Pilipinas brand of leadership with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. at the forefront.”
Espinar was arrested on Jan. 10, 2025 during an entrapment operation conducted in Quezon City. The operation also resulted in the rescue of the baby which was just 11-days old at that time.
It said the Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC) conducted the operation after finding a Facebook account “Child Adoption Center Philippines” where Espinar was found offering a baby for adoption in exchange for P50,000.
It said that during the exchange of messages with undercover police officers, Espinar claimed that she was doing it on behalf of her female friend who is the baby’s mother.
A copy of the decision was not available as of posting time.
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