A mother accused of attempting to sell her 13-day-old newborn baby online was arrested in Taguig City, according to Chino Gaston’s Tuesday 24 Oras report.
The arrest was made by operatives of the Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC) after the suspect offered her baby for adoption on the Internet.
“13 days old ‘yung bata, inalok sa internet. Tayo naman may undercover tayo na pulis. ‘Yun yung naging way namin para ma-entrap ‘yung nagbebenta,” said PBGen. Portia Manalad, PNP-WCPC chief.
(The 13-day-old child was offered on the internet. We deployed an undercover police officer, which allowed us to entrap the seller.)
The suspect is now facing charges of violating Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act) and the human trafficking law.
The PNP warned individuals looking to adopt children to avoid illegal methods and emphasized that there were legal and streamlined processes for adoption.
“Actually dine-discourage natin talaga na mag-end sila sa illegal adoption. Sabi nga ng DSWD, medyo in-ease na nila yung process to adopt a child,” Manalad added.
(We discourage people from resorting to illegal adoptions. The DSWD has eased the adoption process.)
According to PNP-WCPC data, 22 social media sites offering illegal adoptions have been identified.
While the police have shut down some of these platforms, others continue to operate and are under close monitoring.
The PNP was also actively monitoring illegal surrogacy operations, where wealthy foreigners allegedly pay to impregnate Filipino minors in exchange for financial compensation. — Sherylin Untalan/DVM, GMA Integrated News
Be the first to comment