The process of legal adoption in the Philippines is long, tedious and meticulous. This is done by the authorities to ensure the best interests of the child being adopted, as well as the peace of mind of the person/s seeking to adopt a child.
There are several steps, such as the determination of eligibility, attendance in a pre-adoption seminar, filing of an application, matching, pre-placement trial custody, petition for adoption, issuance of the decree of adoption, and post-adoption services.
The government is involved in this process every step of the way. For instance, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) requires prospective adoptive parents to attend an adoption seminar where they are taught about the responsibilities of adoptive parents, prior to the submission of an application to adopt with the DSWD or any licensed adoption agency.
The Child Welfare Specialist Group (CWSG) matches a child with adoptive parents, considering the needs of the child and preferences of the adoptive parents. After the match, there is a six-month trial custody wherein the child lives with the prospective parents, followed by the formal petition and issuance of the decree of adoption by the court.
Some people wanted to skirt the law and take a shortcut in adoption. And meeting their needs are unscrupulous individuals who sell not only cosmetics and baby powder but babies online. This week, the National Bureau of Investigation-Human Trafficking Division (NBI-HTRAD) arrested a woman in Muntinlupa City caught selling a baby online for P25,000.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago said on Thursday that the NBI has received information from the Department of Justice - Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking – NBI CyberTip Center (DOJ-IACAT-NBI Cybertip) regarding a certain Christina Paule who was allegedly engaged in selling babies on Facebook.
The 51-year-old midwife allegedly tried to sell the days-old infant for P25,000 on the social media platform.
An entrapment and rescue operation by government operatives, with support from non-government organization Exodus Road Philippines, resulted in the arrest of Paule. She was charged with violation of Child Trafficking under Republic Act 7610, as amended (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act), in relation to RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012), and violation of RA 9208, as amended (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 1998).
The rescued baby was turned over to the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-National Capital Region.
Under Republic Act 11642, adoptions conducted outside the national care guidelines are considered a form of human trafficking and a crime. The penalty for Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act is 20 years to life imprisonment and fine of PHP1 million to PHP5 million.
The penalty for qualified trafficking is life imprisonment and a fine of PHP2 million to PHP5 million.
Article IV, Section 7 of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, states that child trafficking carries a penalty of reclusion temporal (12 years imprisonment) to reclusion perpetua (up to 40 years imprisonment).
What is really concerning is the information from the National Authority for Child Care (NACC) that there are 23 Facebook pages selling Filipino children online in the guise of adoption. NACC executive director Janella Ejercito Estrada said the Facebook pages have been reported to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
"This arrest is a crucial step in our relentless fight against child trafficking, and illegal adoption. The NACC is to chair the newly-created DOJ-IACAT-Technical Working Group on Anti-Illegal Adoption," she said.
“We commend the NBI and all involved agencies for their swift and decisive action. The NACC remains committed to protecting the welfare of children and ensuring that those who exploit them are brought to justice. We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities," she added.
Estrada reiterated the commitment of the DSWD, NACC, DOJ, through the NBI, and other partner agencies to combat child trafficking, illegal online adoption, and protect vulnerable children from potential exploitation.
Law enforcement authorities should be encouraged and praised for going after the sellers of babies and toddlers, whether online or through other means.
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