Mother nabbed for selling one-year-old baby on social media

Police arrested a mother in Pasig City after attempting to put up her one-year-old baby for adoption in exchange for cash.

According to a "State of the Nation" report by Vonne Aquino on Friday, the suspect was nabbed in an entrapment operation last Wednesday after she tried to sell her baby to an undercover PNP cyber patroller.

The operation was arranged after the PNP Northern District Anti-Cybercrime Team monitored a social media post offering a baby for adoption in exchange for money.

“Sa halagang P8,000, yung baby binebenta nila,” said PNP-Anti-Cybercrime Group Acting Director Police Brigadier General Wilson Asueta.

(For the amount of P8,000, she is selling her baby.)

“Mayroon siyang seven na anak, and out of seven meron na siyang naibentang isa. So the rest, nasa custody ng kaniyang mga relatives. Ngayon, ang binebenta yung bunso yun. Kahirapan ang sinasabi ng suspek natin,” he added.

(She has seven children, and out of seven she already sold one, so the rest are under the custody of her relatives. Now, she attempted to sell her youngest. The suspect said it was due to poverty.)

The PNP said that they are currently locating the child she had sold, while the baby is now in the custody of the Pasig City Social Welfare and Development Office.

The suspect underwent inquest proceedings. 

In 2025, the National Authority for Child Care had reported 16 online groups that sold babies to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).

Data from the reports led to the rescue of 15 victims, the arrest of 21 suspects, and the conviction of one suspect.

Meanwhile, the PNP-ACG warned the public that even those who attempt to buy children online will be punished under the law.

“Kung gusto niyong mag-ampon, pumunta kayo sa karapat-dapat na ahensya ng gobyerno lalong lalo na sa DSWD, and of course it should be processed sa court natin,” Asueta said.

(If you want to adopt, head to the appropriate government agency, especially the DSWD, and of course it should be processed by our courts.) —Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News