This photo shows midwife Maria Christina Paule during a press conference at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) headquarters in Manila on Thursday, July 18, 2024. The NBI arrested Paule for selling a six-day-old baby girl for P25,000. She was nabbed during an entrapment operation on July 16. - Photo: Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
MANILA: Authorities have arrested a woman for selling a six-day-old baby for US$428 (P25,000) through social media, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Thursday (July 18).
In a statement, the DOJ said agents of the National Bureau of Investigation Human Trafficking Division arrested the woman in an entrapment operation in Muntinlupa City on July 16.
The DOJ did not name the suspect but a separate statement issued by the NBI identified her as Christina Paule.
The operation was conducted in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the DOJ Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, and the Cyber-Tip Monitoring Center.
Undercover
The bureau acted on a tip from the monitoring center about a person allegedly selling a baby on a Facebook page.
After some intelligence gathering, the NBI had an agent posing as a buyer, establishing communication with the suspect who introduced herself as a midwife and offered to sell the six-day-old baby.
“At the meeting place (they agreed upon), the perpetrator introduced herself and showed the baby in exchange for money. Upon confirming her intent to sell the newborn baby, the agent signalled for the arrest,” the DOJ said.
The recovered baby was turned over to the DSWD’s custody.
Charged with trafficking
The DOJ said the suspect underwent inquest proceedings on Wednesday on charges of violating Section 4(g) of Republic Act No. 9208, or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Child Trafficking; Republic Act No. 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, and the cybercrime prevention law.
“The successful operation underscores the ongoing efforts of the government to combat human trafficking and protect the most vulnerable members of society,” the DOJ said.
Wednesday’s arrest came nearly two months after the DOJ filed qualified trafficking and child exploitation charges against a 29-year-old woman who sold her 8-day-old son, along with a government employee who allegedly acted as her intermediary.
‘Black market’
The National Authority for Child Care, an agency attached to the DWSD, earlier drew attention to the emergence of a “black market” for illegal adoptions on social media.
On May 30, Justice Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano IV said Meta, the company behind Facebook, had taken down at least 500 accounts linked to the sale of babies online.
“But we think those are not enough. It is still prevalent. There are still many accounts that have to be closed down,” he said. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
