Manila: Senator Pia Cayetano on Thursday called for a Senate inquiry into the reported sale of babies on social media platforms, as she urged the full enforcement of laws that safeguard children against trafficking and illegal adoption. 'Babies are not commodities,' Cayetano said, following reports from the Commission on Human Rights and the Philippine National Police that criminal groups are exploiting vulnerable families online.
According to Philippines News Agency, these are heartbreaking reports that demand swift and coordinated action. The sale of children online is a gross violation of their rights and a crime under our laws. Cayetano said she is filing a Senate resolution to investigate the growing number of online baby-selling cases, including the potential involvement of organized syndicates and the gaps in enforcement and regulation that allow these illegal practices to persist.
She underscored the importance of fully implementing Republic Act (RA) 9208, as amended by the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, and RA 11642 or the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act. Both laws, which she authored, prohibit the sale of children and streamline legal adoption processes.
'The Constitution and our laws are clear: our children deserve to grow up in safe, loving homes-not to be traded in online marketplaces,' Cayetano said. She also called for improved coordination among law enforcement agencies, social workers, and regulatory bodies, along with strengthened community education and digital monitoring systems.
Reports have indicated that even unborn children are being offered for adoption in exchange for money. 'This issue is a painful reminder of the deep poverty and desperation that some families face, but that cannot justify the exploitation of our children. We must give mothers and families real alternatives, including accessible social services and a humane, efficient adoption system,' she said.
Cayetano expressed full support for the National Authority for Child Care, particularly in its efforts to carry out its mandate through adequate funding, staffing, and public awareness programs.
