PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. aims to intervene to put an end to the illegal selling of babies through the Internet, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Thursday.
The department is in talks with the Office of the President to address the illicit sale of babies online, according to DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing.
“Si Presidente na mismo, gusto nang mag-intervene dito sa ating problemang ito. Sa tingin po niya, hindi daw tayo magkaka-progress, walang progression ang Pilipinas kung mayroon tayong mga problema na ganito,” Clavano said.
He stressed the need for a whole-of-nation approach that includes the private sector, communities, civil society, and social media platforms to combat the sale and illegal adoption of children.
“Mayroon din po tayong mga reporting mechanisms na talagang baba sa barangay level dahil alam naman po natin na itong krimen na ito ay laging itinatago. So iyong mga leaders po sa mga barangay, mga kagawad, mga community leaders and to those influentials sa kanilang mga komunidad ay puwede ring mag-report sa mga awtoridad,” he said.
He further called on the public to report such illegal activities to the authorities.
“We need the support and help of all netizens out there na mayroon silang access sa Facebook, sa mga account na ganito na please i-report kaagad sa awtoridad,” he added.
Clavano also urged Facebook’s parent company, Meta Platforms Inc., to provide more initiatives, programs, and mechanisms to protect children online.
The National Authority on Child Care (NACC) and the Women and Children Protection Center of the Philippine National Police (PNP) are already tracking the other groups engaged in the sale of babies.
