Philippine National Police supports having “more teeth” in sanctions for those engaged in online child-selling, PNP acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.
“The entire police force supports having more teeth in holding accountable the individuals involved in this kind of work,” he said.
The PNP Women and Children’s Protection Center noted an increase in cases involving individuals selling children online in 2025, with eight people arrested last year for selling their newborns — up from five cases recorded in 2024.
Nartatez affirmed the PNP’s commitment to strictly enforcing anti-trafficking laws to eradicate online child-selling, stressing the police force will hunt the persons involved in such illicit activities.
The PNP can work with other agencies to address this issue, he added.
Nartatez mentioned the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act as legal frameworks to deal with offenders.
He said the PNP would collaborate with social media platforms to address the problem.
“If no one is held accountable for the syndicates involved in this activity, the number of cases of online child selling will only continue to increase,” Nartatez said.
Earlier, the WCPC reported the arrest of a 17-year-old mother who allegedly sold her one-month-old baby for P55,000.
WCPC chief Brig. Gen. Maria Sheila Portento said police discovered the transaction through the teenager’s social media post advertising the child to potential buyers.
Authorities arranged a meeting with the suspect at a fast-food restaurant in Quezon City last Tuesday, which led to her arrest.
Portento said the teenager admitted that she planned to use the money to pay for her tuition.
