Six-month old twins rescued from illegal adoption — NBI

Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have rescued six-month old twins who were missing for months, the agency announced Friday.

The NBI said the operation, launched by its district offices for Lucena and Laguna, stemmed from a complaint by a mother that her newborn twins were abducted.

The complainant said she initially agreed with a woman to give up her children for adoption in exchange for financial assistance and money for expenses during her pregnancy.

The mother changed her mind after giving birth and refused to go through with the adoption, the NBI said.

However, the supposed abductor took custody of the twins and gave them up for adoption.

The NBI said the subject then demanded a reimbursement of P350,000 for the expenses incurred during pregnancy. She also claimed that a foreign couple already adopted the twins.

"Through diligent investigation of the NBI-LUCDO (Lucena District Office), the whereabouts of the twins were discovered and a rescue operation was conducted, and the twins were safely given back to their mother," the NBI said.

Last May, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) sounded the alarm on the illegal adoption and sale of babies, particularly over social media.

At that time, the National Authority for Child Care (NACC) said it has been monitoring the illegal adoption of babies since last year and has found 20 to 40 Facebook pages where such transactions take place. — VDV, GMA Integrated News