7-month-old baby sold online for P35K rescued 

A 7-month-old baby being sold for P35,000 on social media was rescued by the authorities in Rodriguez, Rizal. 

According to Dano Tingcungco's report on "24 Oras" on Wednesday, the police said the suspect sold the baby to an undercover agent through a legal adoption chat group.

An operation was launched last November 6 to rescue the baby. The 29-year-old suspect was also arrested.

“Hindi katanggap-tanggap at nakababahala ang online baby selling dahil hindi nakasisiguro kung napupunta ang bata sa mabuting kamay lalo na sa panahong seryosong usapin ang online child sexual abuse, trafficking in person, organ donation at iba pang uri ng exploytasyon,” said National Authority for Child Care (NACC) undersecretary Janella Estrada. 

(Online baby selling is unacceptable and worrisome because it is not guaranteed that the child ends up in good hands, especially at a time when online child sexual abuse, trafficking-in-person, organ donation, and other types of exploitation are seriously discussed.) 

Since May of this year, the authorities have rescued six children and due to increased surveillance, 14 Facebook groups and accounts involved in the illegal selling of babies and illegal adoption have been taken down.

"We also ensure na mai-report sa mga law enforcement agencies so that ma-track down din 'yung mga groups and ma-penalize who are the perpetrators of these acts,” said Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao. 

(We also ensure that it is reported to law enforcement agencies so that the groups can be tracked down and penalized.) 

Apart from taking care of the rescued children, the DSWD also intervenes with the parents of those who were rescued.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News