DAVAO CITY, Philippines —President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to intervene to halt the illegal online sale of babies, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Thursday.
DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano revealed during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing that discussions are ongoing between the DOJ and the Office of the President to tackle this alarming issue.
“The President himself wants to intervene in this problem. He believes that we won’t be able to progress if issues like this persist,” Clavano stated.
He emphasized the necessity of a holistic approach, involving the private sector, communities, civil society, and social media platforms, to effectively combat the illegal sale and adoption of children.
“We have reporting mechanisms down to the barangay level because we all know that this type of crime is kept secret. Barangay leaders, councilors, community leaders, and influential community members can also report these activities to authorities,” Clavano explained.
He also urged the public to report such illegal activities. “We need the support and help of all netizens who have access to Facebook to report these accounts to the proper authorities,” he added.
Clavano called on Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, to enhance their initiatives, programs, and mechanisms to protect children online.
The National Authority on Child Care (NACC) and the Women and Children Protection Center of the Philippine National Police (PNP) are already monitoring other groups involved in the illegal sale of babies.
The DOJ has filed qualified trafficking and child exploitation charges against members of a criminal syndicate engaged in the online sale of babies. In a five-page resolution, the DOJ Task Force on Women and Children and Against Trafficking in Persons charged Arjay Malabanan and Ma. Chariza Dizon before the Manila Regional Trial Court.
The charges arose from a complaint filed by the PNP-Women and Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC) based on information from the National Authority for Child Care. The complaint detailed a “black market” in social media groups where aspiring parents seek to illegally adopt children.
An entrapment operation by the PNP-WCPC at the Immaculate Conception Church in Dasmariñas City, Cavite, on May 15 resulted in the arrest of “Kuy’s Jay,” later identified as Malabanan, who offered to sell a newborn for PHP90,000 to undercover law enforcers. Malabanan, a resident of Bacoor, Cavite, is employed by the Dasmariñas local government. Dizon, a resident of Tondo, Manila, is the mother of the rescued 8-day-old male infant.
DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla assured that justice would be served. “Children are the most precious treasures of society, meant to be fully protected by law. They are the best investments of today for a better tomorrow. We will never allow anyone to exploit them in any way,” Remulla stated.-With a report from PNA
