Senate Calls Senate Investigation Into Online Baby-Selling
Senator Pia Cayetano has urged the Senate to launch a thorough investigation into the rising number of social media posts offering babies for sale. This alarming trend has prompted immediate legislative action to address what many consider a grave violation of children’s rights.
The senator formalized her call through a resolution filed recently, spotlighting the urgent need for government intervention. The call follows warnings from human rights authorities about an increasing online market where babies are treated as commodities, sometimes with families involved in the illegal transactions.
Addressing the Online Baby-Selling Crisis
Cayetano condemned the commodification of children, emphasizing that such acts amount to the exploitation of the most vulnerable. “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,” she stated.
Authorities in law enforcement and social welfare have been tasked to investigate whether these illicit sales are orchestrated by organized syndicates. The probe also aims to identify and close systemic loopholes that allow the illegal trade to flourish.
Strengthening Laws and Community Efforts
The senator underscored the importance of enforcing the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, which explicitly criminalizes selling children and cash-for-adoption schemes as forms of human trafficking. She also highlighted the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act as a framework to promote efficient, affordable adoption for Filipino families.
Recognizing the digital nature of this crime, Cayetano called for enhanced community education and vigilant digital monitoring. Reports have even surfaced of unborn babies being put up for adoption online in exchange for money, signaling a disturbing trend that needs urgent attention.
Providing Real Alternatives to Families
“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,” Cayetano stressed.
She pledged to advocate for stronger legal protections to shield Filipino children from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The commitment reflects growing concern among public officials and advocates as the online baby-selling issue threatens the welfare of countless children nationwide.
For more news and updates on online baby-selling, visit Filipinokami.com.
