Mothers arrested in Bulacan, Pampanga for attempting to sell babies

Two babies were rescued in separate operations in Bulacan and Pampanga after their mothers attempted to sell them on social media.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Vonne Aquino on Friday, an operation in front of a church in Angeles, Pampanga, led to the rescue of a two-day-old boy.

The PNP Women and Children Protection Center and City Social Welfare and Development Office conducted the rescue after the child was found being sold online for P30,000.

The child's mother said that she had no intention of becoming pregnant and wanted to use the money for her other child, who is sick.

“Ang nakakalungkot kasi, as it appears, para lang siyang commodity na inooffer… So, very crucial na kapag nakapag-engage kami nito. Dapat mabilisan, kasi paano kung mapunta sa maling kamay itong mga batang ito?” said PNP-WCPC Chief Police Brigadier General Maria Sheila Portento.

(What’s sad is that as it appears, it seems like the baby is just a commodity being offered. So, it’s very crucial that we were able to engage here. It had to be fast, because what would happen if this child ended up in the wrong hands?)

In a separate operation at a fast food chain in Baliwag, Bulacan, the PNP-WCPC rescued a three-month-old girl being sold for P130,000.

Authorities nabbed the victim’s mother, grandmother, and aunt.

“Allegedly, ito yung pang piyansa doon sa tatay nung sanggol dahil nakakulong, and then pampagamot or pampaopera nung lolo nung sanggol kaya malaki demand money nila,” said Portento.

(Allegedly, this would have been used as bail for the child’s father since he is in jail and then for medication or an operation for the child’s grandfather; that is why they demanded a large amount of money.)

The PNP-WCPC reported that in the first two months of 2026, they had already saved five children from being sold online, which matched the total for 2024.

“Kami po ay masusing mag iimbestiga, manghuhuli at magkakaso sa mga taong nagbebenta ng sanggol o ng bata na ginagawang kalakal ang mga ito. Tandaan po natin, ang bawat sanggol, buhay yan, hindi po sya pareho ng isang bagay o isang hayop na pwedeng ibenta,” said Portento.

(We are thoroughly investigating, arresting, and filing charges on people selling babies or children like they are common goods. We have to remember that each child is alive and not like an object or an animal that can be sold.)

Meanwhile, the suspects will face charges of violating the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act, and the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

The rescued children have been turned over to the National Authority for Child Care. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News