A FACEBOOK page called “Baby adoption in Davao” is believed to be facilitating the illegal “sale” of babies.
A netizen alerted Superbalita Davao about the page. The netizen, name withheld, sent a private message through Facebook: “Hello kindly investigate po this page. Nagbebenta ng bata (It is selling babies)."
The message was accompanied with a screenshot of the page, which showed 52 followers.
The same FB page claims that it sells RTWs (ready-to-wear clothes).
One of its posts, however, reads: "4 months baby P25k demand un lang daw hinihingi nya (that is the only amount required).. Davao area lang po (only in Davao area)." It was posted last September 10.
Another post goes: "Mom from Bacolod .. demand is 20k ten days na baby girl.. need lang asap." It was posted on September 27, 2018.
Aside from posts on children for adoption, the same FB page also posted messages thanking all those who availed of its services.
"Thank-you Mrs Samonte sa pag trust sa among page ug sa akoa.. emuha ge Padala ang 10k sa akoa para akoy mag kuha sa baby.. hope alagaan nyu c baby ma'am.. again tnx (Thanks Mrs Samonte for trusting me and our page and for the P10,000 you sent. Hope you take care of the baby)," one of the posts reads.
Another post states: “Thanks sa inyu Mr/Mrs Cruz sa pag ampon kay baby girl from Bacolod.. (Thank you Mr and Mrs Cruz for adopting baby girl from Bacolod)."
When asked for comment, the Department of Social Welfare and Development regional office in Davao (DSWD-11), through information officer Carmela Duron, said in an email: "This must be stopped and reported. I have attached a primer on legal adoption. I have already informed the adoption resource and referral unit (Arru) on this.”
The department is the agency that handles the proper, correct and legal process for child adoption.
It also encourages the public to support its drive against illegal adoption and asks the public to report to the office any illegal adoption process.
Illegal adoption poses risks to the adopted children and the adoptive parents since their rights could not be protected under the Republic Act 8552, or Domestic Adoption Act of 1998.
Those who are caught violating RA 8552 will be punished.
DSWD revealed that no fees are required for legal adoption services.
However, the applicants need to pay the processing fee and the lawyer’s fee.