THE National Authority for Child Care (NACC) is calling on Meta PH to remove several Facebook groups and user accounts involved in online child trafficking, child exploitation and illegal adoption.
“We call on social media intermediaries, particularly Meta PH, to totally ban groups and accounts being used as a platform to facilitate child trafficking — especially online baby selling, illegal adoption, and child exploitation,” NACC Executive Director and Undersecretary Janelle Ejercito Estrada said on Sunday.
Estrada said in a statement emailed to The Manila Times that Meta PH and other social media platforms cannot evade accountability by claiming they do not officially operate within the Philippines.
She said it was preparing to officially communicate with Meta PH and other social media platforms like Instagram, Tiktok and YouTube.
Estrada said such platforms are liable under Republic Act 11862 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022 to knowingly or by gross negligence allow their internet infrastructure to be used for the purpose of promoting trafficking in persons.
“More so that social media platforms have a moral obligation to self-regulate. Their responsibility extends to ensuring their services are not used for criminal activity — especially for vulnerable children,” Estrada pointed out.
An attached agency of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the NACC made the call following an entrapment operation by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Women and Children Protection Center, which resulted in the rescue of four children in San Pedro City, Laguna, on Feb. 26.
Arrested were two suspects who were common-law partners, ages 43 and 34, who allegedly tried to sell a five-day-old female infant for P35,000.
Three other children in their custody, ages 2, 11 and 12, who were deemed at risk, were also rescued.
The couple was also trying to sell the two-year-old female child. Police are determining the suspects’ relation to the children.
Charges of violating existing laws on anti-trafficking in persons, as well as RA 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, were filed against the suspects.
The NACC continues to work closely with law enforcement agencies and partners to combat online child trafficking, child exploitation and illegal adoption “to ensure that every child is protected and given the opportunity to grow in a safe, loving, and permanent family,” said Estrada, a former San Juan City vice mayor and daughter of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.
