2 mothers nabbed for alleged attempt to sell own babies

Undercover police operatives rescued two babies, who were allegedly being sold online by their own mothers, in separate entrapment operations.

On January 20, a one-year-old baby boy was rescued in Quezon City by cops from the PNP Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC).

The sting operation also led to the arrest of the infant’s 26-year-old pregnant mother, who tried to sell her own son for P25,000.

“According sa kanya (mother) pito ang anak nya. Itong binenta nya pampito tapos buntis siya ngayon ng three months ulit at hindi sya sinusuportahan ng kanyang asawa,” said WCPC chief Police Brig. Gen. Sheila Portento.

(According to her (mother) she has seven children. She tried to sell the seventh child and now she is three months pregnant again and her husband is not supporting her.)

The following day, January 21, another entrapment operation was launched in Batangas City that resulted in the rescue of a three-month-old baby boy, whom his mother offered for illegal adoption for P75,000.

The 26-year-old mother, who had just returned to the country from Vietnam with her newborn son, was also apprehended.

“Noong tinanong namin bakit nya ibinibenta, according to her para makabalik sa Vietnam para makapagtrabaho ulit,” said Portento.

(When we asked why she was selling (her child), according to her, so she can return to Vietnam to work again.)

The rescued infants were immediately turned over to social workers while their mothers are detained in a prison cell at Camp Crame.

Both of them declined to give a statement to the media.

“Pasensya na po, pasensya na po, sorry po,” one of the suspects was heard saying.

The mothers face possible life imprisonment for violating the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022, as well as Child Trafficking under Republic Act No. 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.

“Trafficking-in persons ang ikakaso natin kasi ginawa nilang kalakal ang buhay,” Portento explained.

(We will sue for trafficking in persons because they have turned life into a commodity.)

Babies for sale on the rise?

The WCPC has expressed alarm over the rising cases of babies for sale.

In 2024, the WCPC rescued five infants and eight in 2025. In January this year alone, three babies have already been rescued.

In an effort to curb the illicit adoption scheme, authorities are now zeroing in on at least 10 social media pages that have become breeding grounds for selling babies.

This is in addition to eight sites that have been taken down with the help of the social media platforms.

“Hindi rin kami mapapagod na suyurin sila,” Portento vowed. — BAP, GMA Integrated News