By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Alarmed by the proliferation of “Babies For Sale” on Facebook without the legal papers on adoption, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has called on the social media platform to take down its online pages engaged in such fraudulent practice.
The DSWD has reiterated its call on Facebook following the recent arrest in Dasmariñas City, Cavite of a 29-year-old mother who tried to peddle her 8-day-old baby boy through a middleman using an FB account.
“That’s why we called for this presscon because, maybe through the media ay makalampag ang Facebook na yung unregulated freedom sa Facebook should come with responsibilities na obviously, may mga bagay na klarong- klarong mali,” DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian told reporters in a press conference on Monday (20 May 2024).
Gatchalian said that the National Authority for Child Care (NACC), an attached agency of the DSWD, has been asking Facebook to take down the pages engaged in the criminal activity of selling babies online in the guise of adoption.
However, the social media provider has failed to act on the NACC’s request since last year.
The DSWD chief noted that social media is a powerful tool if put to good use but “it can also be a very cruel tool especially when it is being used for human trafficking, which is a cruel act. It’s cruel and abusive.”
“So dito siguro, ang panawagan namin sa publiko is help us report kung may nakita kayo. But at the same time, we will continue engaging Facebook. So that we can regulate to some degree the utilization of their platform,” Gatchalian said.
He underscored that selling of babies is illegal under Republic Act 9208 as amended by RA 10346 (as further amended by RA 11862) or the Anti-Trafficking in Person Act of 2023, which provides for a penalty ranging from 12 years to life imprisonment and a fine ranging from P1 million to P5 million.
“Ulitin ko, parang ang hirap naman turuan ang isang ina na huwag mong gawing produkto ang anak mo at ilako mo sa Facebook. And the problem with some people akala nila dahil unregulated (ang Facebook,) kayang-kaya nilang gawin, pwede nilang gawin,” Gatchalian said.
NACC executive director and DSWD Undersecretary Janella Estrada said her agency has been closely monitoring between 20 to 40 Facebook pages and engaged in baby and child trafficking.
“These FB pages are private accounts with thousands of followers. These social media sites are selling babies online in the guise of adoption and since February, we have been coordinating with the PNP to put a stop to this illegal activity,” Estrada said.
(el Amigo/MNM)
