Manila, Philippines- The Department of Justice has charged two suspects with human trafficking and child exploitation for selling newborn baby.
In a five-page resolution submitted on May 20, the DOJ confirmed that the two individuals who tried to sell the 8-day-old baby for Php90,000 are guilty of trafficking and child exploitation.
“There is sufficient probable cause to indict respondents… for qualified trafficking,” stated in the resolution.
Recently, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) , the National Authority for Child Care (NACC) , and the Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC) successfully conducted an entrapment operation against two suspects in Dasmariñas, Cavite.
The NACC reported to the PNP-WCPC that Facebook groups are emerging where parents sell their own children or individuals seek adoptable children.
In a press conference, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian emphasized that no child deserves to be sold on Facebook as if they were a commodity in the marketplace of the social platform.
The agency insists that illegal adoption on social media is a form of cruelty to children.
READ: DSWD CONDEMNS RAMPANT ILLEGAL ADOPTION IN SOCIAL MEDIA
“Babala na siguro ito sa mga nagtatangka na huwag nya na gawin itong adoption na hindi dumadaan sa tamang prosesong legal, human trafficking yan. Kung inosente ka man, at gusto mo lang naman magkaanak, huwag mo nang tangkain ‘yon, pumasok na lamang tayo sa tamang proseso sa NACC kasi itinaguyod nga ng mga mambabatas natin tong NACC para maging mas mabilis ang proseso ng pag-adopt,” Secretary Gatchalian pointed out.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla stated that they will not tolerate any form of child abuse protected by law in the Philippines.
“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 said in a statement.