Illegal Baby Selling in the Philippines: What Parents Must Know

For many Filipino families, having a child is a blessing. But in households weighed down by poverty, even love and hope can be overwhelmed by harsh realities. In a growing number of cases, infants are being sold online, often by desperate relatives, through private Facebook accounts. These cases, hidden in plain sight, are exposing how digital platforms can be exploited in the name of survival.

CHR Commissioner Beda Epres revealed in a DZMM interview that at least 16 people have been arrested for selling babies online. One person has been convicted, and the youngest victim was just six days old.

Epres explained that most transactions occur through closed Facebook groups or private messages, where sellers advertise and negotiate prices with interested buyers.

“Medyo talamak siya ngayon maybe because of the advent of new technology. Nagagamit pong platform dito po sa illegal trade na ito ‘yung mga social media app,” Epres said.

He also warned that babies sold online are at risk of falling into the hands of child predators. Disturbingly, as of June 16, at least 12 Facebook groups with over 200,000 members are still actively facilitating online baby selling.

In most cases, the people selling the children are relatives or even the biological parents themselves. The most common reason given is poverty.

“Kakuntsaba po ‘yung magulang dahil pumapayag po sila na ibenta ‘yung kanilang baby. Ang kasamaang palad ay ang parati nilang sinasabing dahilan ay ‘yung kanilang kahirapan kaya nauudyok sila na pasukin ang [pagbebenta ng] kanilang mga anak,” Epres said.

In one incident on July 3, 2025, a one-month-old baby was rescued in Pasay City after being sold for P90,000 through Facebook. In May 2024, a midwife in Muntinlupa was caught trying to sell a six-day-old baby for P25,000. Another case in Northern Samar involved a mother trying to sell her two-month-old baby.

Some of these illegal transactions are presented as informal adoptions, but they are not legally recognized. Babies sold in this way are often registered later under new names through late birth registration, further complicating their legal status and identity.

Under Republic Act 11642, which was signed in 2022, adoption in the Philippines has become a streamlined administrative process. What once took three to seven years and required costly legal services can now be completed in as little as nine months at no cost to petitioners.

“Under the administrative process, when a petition for adoption is filed with complete requirements and everything is efficient in form and substance, in nine months’ time, an adoption order can be issued,” said Assistant Secretary Rowena Macalintal of the National Authority for Child Care (NACC). “There are no fees to pay to NACC or our regional alternative childcare offices.”

Penalties for those caught selling children include 12 to 20 years of imprisonment and fines under the country’s anti-trafficking laws.

Those who know of illegal adoption activities are urged to report them to DSWD, NACC, or law enforcement. The NACC hotline is 0917-322-6222. For more information on legal adoption, visit www.nacc.gov.ph.

Check out this important checklist before considering adoption.