Week-old baby rescued after being offered for P90k on social media group

After receiving a tip last May 15, the Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center went undercover to rescue a one-week-old baby that was offered to be sold for P90,000.

According to a special report of "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," a middleman administered the transaction.

"P40,000 ay para doon sa middleman at 'yung P50,000 will be given to the mother," said PBGEN Portia Manalad, Chief of the Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center.

["PHP 40,000 is for the middleman and PHP 50,000 will be given to the mother."]

The suspects are now imprisoned at Camp Crame, including the 29-year-old mother named "Chari."

"Chari" said that the baby is already her third child and that she had no plans to put him on sale until she had an argument with her live-in partner, supposedly the child's father.

"Lagi niya akong inaaway. Stressed na stressed na ako. Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko sa utang namin," she said.

["My partner would always pick a fight with me. I'm extremely stressed. I don't know what to do about our debt anymore."]

Because of stress, "Chari" gave birth to the baby prematurely, and while she was in labor, her partner disappeared.

"Lalong humirap ang buhay ko eh nu'ng nanganak ako. Nandu'n na kami sa point na mag-ina nasa trike natutulog. Tapos naririnig ko 'yung baby ko na inuubo, bumabahing maya't maya. Kaya sabi ko sa kapatid ko, 'Ate, paampon ko na lang ito,'" "Chari" shared.

["Life got more difficult after I gave birth. It got to a point where we had to sleep inside a tricycle. I'd hear my baby cough and sneeze continuously. I didn't know what else to do, so I decided to give him up for adoption."]

It was also found that "Chari" had her first child adopted by her sister, Rizza.

Facebook group

"Chari" found a Facebook group where babies are openly sold.

When posting the babies for sale, the members include details such as their location, gender, and race, as well as the seller's conditions. The adoptive families would even leave reviews on the group after the transaction.

"Chari" said that she first talked to the middleman when they posted on the group.

"Humihingi ako sa kanya ng tulong kahit P1,500 pang-upa ko. Sinasabi ko sa kanya pero wala naman siyang napadala na ganun sa akin. Sabi niya sa akin, siya na ang bahala magpa-check-up kay baby. Ako siyempre, thankful ako na magiging safe ang anak ko. Bibigyan niya raw ako ng pera. Kumbaga panibagong bukas para magsimula ako," she said.

["I initially asked for P1,500—money for my rent. But I never received any money. They told me that they would take care of my baby. I could only be thankful that my child would be safe. They said they'd give me money so I can start anew."]

They were set to meet at a church in Dasmariñas, Cavite, where the authorities also planned the entrapment operation.

It was then that "Chari" found out that the middleman's buyer was the police operatives.

The baby is now under the custody of a child care facility in Tagaytay.

"Maaari nilang kunin o mabalik sa kanila ang custody dahil ang priority natin is makasama ng bata 'yung biological family niya. Kailangan pumasa sila du'n sa PCAR na tinatawag o 'yung Parental Capability and Assessment Report," National Authority for Child Care Undersecretary Janella Ejercito Estrada said.

["The mother can still regain custody of the child because we want the child to be with his biological family. They must pass what we call the Parental Capability and Assessment Report."]

Meanwhile, the family of "Chari's" partner denied that he was the baby's father.

"Chari's" family vowed that they would take care of the process to get her child back.

Orphan crisis in the Philippines

According to Save the Children-Philippines, there is an ongoing "orphan crisis" in the country. It is estimated that as many as two million Filipino children are orphans or have been abandoned by their parents.

"Mayroon data from the Child Protection Network. Last year alone, mayroon silang almost 20 child trafficking cases. From the past five years, mayroon around 50. But we also need to remember that these are only reported cases," said April Anne Correa, Project Coordinator of Save the Children-Philippines.

["According to the Child Protection Network, they had almost 20 cases of child trafficking in the past year alone. In the past 50 years, there were around 50. But we need to remember that these only account for reported cases."]

"Ang pinakaunang rason kung bakit nagbebenta 'yung mga biological mothers ng kanilang mga anak dahil nga sa kahirapan. Hindi nila kayang palakihin kaya nagso-sort sila sa ganitong klaseng gawain which is illegal dahil ito po ay violation ng child abuse, ng exploitation and ng trafficking," Usec. Janella Ejercito Estrada said.

["Because of poverty, biological mothers are forced to sell their own children. Since they could not take care of their child, they resort to doing something like this, which is illegal and constitutes child abuse, exploitation, and trafficking."]

Meanwhile, the PNP is now taking the necessary steps to take down the buy-and-sell groups of babies online.

"Puwede kami makipag-usap sa mga provider sa internet providers natin. Ang Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) mismo ang tumawag at nakipag-usap sa Facebook para i-down itong mga site na ito,"  PBGEN Manalad said.

["We can coordinate with our internet providers. In fact, our DSWD is in contact with Facebook to take down these sites."]

"Sa mga gusto magpaampon ng kanilang mga anak na hindi nila kayang palakihin at tustusan, puwede nila dalhin ang kanilang mga anak sa mga DSWD residential care facilities. And mayroon din mga private na child-caring agencies or orphanage," Usec. Estrada said.

["For people who can't care for their child and want to put their child up for adoption, they can bring their child to DSWD residential care facilities. There are also private child-caring agencies or orphanages."]

If you need assistance with issues related to women or child care, please contact the following hotlines:

NATIONAL AUTHORITY FOR CHILD CARE HOTLINE
0917 322 6222

PNP HOTLINE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN PROTECTION
0966 725 5961
0919 777 7377

—JCB, GMA Integrated News