February 4, 2026
MANILA – Two parents were arrested in Bulacan for allegedly selling their 12-day-old baby girl to fund their street food business, the National Authority for Child Care (NACC) said on Tuesday.
The suspects were entrapped by the Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center (PNP WCPC) at a mall in San Jose del Monte on Monday, according to the NACC.
“The infant’s parents were arrested after accepting buy-bust money amounting to P27,500,” the NACC explained.
“Investigations revealed that the couple allegedly intended to use the amount as start-up capital for a street food business selling kwek-kwek (deep-fried quail eggs) and fishballs,” it added.
The child was medically assessed and transferred to the appropriate authorities for care, the NACC further noted.
Meanwhile, the arrested suspects were taken into police custody, awaiting charges for violating Republic Act No. 9208or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, and RA No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
“The life of a child is invaluable and must never be used as a commodity, and certainly not exchanged for any amount, regardless of the circumstances,” NACC Executive Director Usec. Janella Ejercito Estrada said in the statement.
“No individual or parent has the right to exploit a child, much less for financial gain. We will ensure that this infant receives the continued care and protection she deserves from the government,” she added.
READ: Online ‘child-selling’ cases rise in PH in 2025, PNP says
Search warrant operations
In another development, the PNP WCPC said in a statement on Tuesday that it arrested two individuals in separate operations in Lanao del Norte and Cavite for allegedly sexually abusing and exploiting children.
Operatives entrapped a mother in Iligan City last Jan. 28 for allegedly sexually abusing and exploiting her one-year-old female child, the WCPC said.
Also last Jan. 28, authorities arrested a public senior high school teacher for sexually exploiting a male victim of legal age.
The latter victim claimed he had been sexually exploited by the teacher since he was 12 years old, according to the WCPC.
The operations were conducted through warrants to search, seize, and examine computer data (WSSECD).
“During the execution of the search warrants, authorities seized various digital and non-digital pieces of evidence believed to contain or be linked to OSAEC (online sexual abuse and exploitation of children) activities and CSAEMs (child sexual abuse or exploitation materials),” the WCPC noted.
Both victims were referred to their respective local social welfare agencies for appropriate intervention, while the arrested suspects were taken into custody by local police to face charges under Republic Act No. 11930, the Anti-OSAEC and Anti-CSAEM Act. /jpv