MANILA – The National Authority for Child Care (NACC) has called on Meta Platforms Philippines to immediately remove Facebook groups and accounts allegedly involved in online child trafficking and illegal adoption.
NACC Undersecretary Janella Ejercito, speaking Friday, urged social media intermediaries to enforce a full ban on communities that facilitate “online baby selling” and other exploitative practices. She warned that platforms could be held liable under R.A. 11862, the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022, if they allow their services to be used for trafficking either knowingly or through gross negligence.
“Beyond legal responsibility, these platforms have an ethical obligation to prevent their infrastructure from being misused to harm children,” Ejercito said.
The appeal follows a Philippine National Police–Women and Children Protection Center operation in San Pedro City, Laguna, on Feb. 26. Authorities rescued four children and arrested two individuals attempting to sell a five-day-old infant for PHP35,000. The suspects, a 43-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman, were also reportedly trying to sell a two-year-old child. Three other children, aged 2, 11, and 12, were rescued after investigators determined they were at risk.
The two children offered for sale remain under protective custody, with authorities exploring appropriate permanency plans. The arrested suspects may face prosecution under the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022 and the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
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