THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) yesterday raised concerns about the supposed illegal sale of babies in social media platforms disguised as legitimate adoption institutions.
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, in a press conference, said the DSWD had to raise public awareness and discourage the public from falling prey to the “ongoing bothersome,” “concerning,” and “cruel form of exploitation and human trafficking” in social media.
“Let this be a stern warning against baby-selling syndicates that we will go after you and we will prosecute all arrested suspects until they are convicted and meted prison sentence,” Gatchalian said.
Gatchalian said the DSWD and its attached agency, the National Authority on Child Care (NACC), are formulating action plans that will put an end to the illegal selling of babies in the web.
NACC executive director Undersecretary Janella Estrada said they have reported to Facebook the social media accounts being used for the illegal activity since last year.
Estrada also said they have monitored about 20 to 40 sites which are involved in the babies for sale market.
The DSWD got wind of the illegal practice following the recent rescue of an eight-day old baby who was sold for P90,000.
The Philippine National Police (PNP)-Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) sought the help of the NACC in setting up the May 15 entrapment and rescue operation against two suspects operating in Cavite.
PNP-WCPC head Police Colonel Renato Mercado said that with the help of NACC, they were able to arrest Arjay Malabanan, 37 years old, a resident of Bacoor, Cavite and an employee of the Dasmariñas City local government, and Chariza Rivera Dizon, 29 years old, a resident of Tondo, Manila.
Dizon is the mother of the rescued baby boy.
The two have been charged with violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (RA 7608), particularly Sections 4(g) and 6 (a) and (o), and
the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act (RA 7610).
The eight-day old child has been turned over to the Augustinian Sisters at the Mother Teresa Espinelli convent in Tagaytay City for proper care.
The suspects were contacted through social media and were supposed to receive P90,000 for the baby – P50,000 for Dizon and P40,000 for Malabanan.
Gatchalian said children are not commodities who can be sold in the Facebook Marketplace app.
He also said poverty is not a reason to sell children, adding that DSWD has several programs to help those in need, especially the poor such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Food stamp Program, Assistance to Individuals in Crisis and Supplemental Livelihood Program.
The DSWD warned those engaged in the babies for sale market they face life imprisonment and fines of P1 million to P5 million if they are caught and found guilty by the courts.
Estrada said legal adoption is now easier and only takes six to nine months unlike in the past when it takes years.
She said it also does not involve money, except for the fees for the needed documents to be submitted.
Gatchalian said they intend to conduct a massive information drive on legal adoption, adding that illegal adoption is considered as a form of human trafficking.
