Newborn sold for P35,000 rescued; baby seller nabbed in Laguna

A five-day-old newborn sold for P35,000 was rescued, while the individual who allegedly peddled the victim and other babies online was arrested in San Pedro, Laguna, Philippine National Police - Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) said Friday.

WCPC chief Police Brigadier General Sheila Marie Portento said the suspect acted as an intermediary connecting biological mothers with buyers through online platforms.

"It started with an engagement February 13 and then na-operate namin siya February 26. And during the course of their engagement, may mga in-offer siya from other locations," she told reporters in an interview.

(It started with an engagement February 13 and then we operated against the suspect February 26. And during the course of their engagement, they had offers from other locations.)

"Ibig sabihin, hindi lang isa yung tina-target niya na ibebenta niya. Kung titignan natin 'yung timeline ng engagement niya with our undercover, makikita natin dito nasa sinapupunan pa 'yung bata, inilako na,” she added.

(That means the suspect was not just targeting one person. If we look at the timeline of his engagement with our undercover agent, we can see that the child was still in the womb when it was offered for sale.)

Portento said the suspect proactively searched online platforms where posts about adoption or baby selling appear and contacted mothers who might be willing to sell their infants.

Authorities believe the suspect's partner was aware of the scheme after accompanying her when the baby was picked up.

Police are tracking the biological mother of the child, who has already been identified. 

Data from the WCPC showed five similar cases in 2024 and eight in 2025. As early as the first week of March this year, police have already recorded nine cases. — VDV, GMA Integrated News