A mother was apprehended in Taguig for allegedly attempting to sell her 13-day-old newborn online.
According to a report by Chino Gaston on 24 Oras on Tuesday, operatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP) – Women and Children’s Protection Center (WCPC) arrested the suspect during an entrapment operation while she carried the infant.
Police officers posed as potential adopters after the suspect offered the baby for adoption through an online platform.
“The baby is just 13 days old. It was offered online. We had an undercover agent act as a buyer, which led to the suspect’s entrapment,” said Police Brigadier General Portia Manalad, chief of PNP-WCPC.
The suspect now faces charges for violating RA 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act, as well as human trafficking laws.
Authorities warned against illegal adoptions and emphasized that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has streamlined the legal adoption process to discourage such practices.
The PNP-WCPC revealed that 22 social media platforms have been found offering illegal adoption services. While several sites have been taken down, others remain active and are under close surveillance.
The police also continue to monitor groups involved in illegal surrogacy, where underage Filipino women are paid to carry children for wealthy foreigners.
