House probe sought into alleged illegal adoption schemes on social media

MANILA, Philippines — An investigation on schemes shrouding the illegal adoption of children that often surface on social media platforms such as Facebook is being pushed in the House of Representatives.

In filing House Resolution No. 1555, Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas said the Department of Social Welfare and Development earlier disclosed in a virtual forum last February 6 the existence of more than 40 social media accounts on Facebook facilitating the illegal adoption.

Vargas is the chairperson of the House committee on social services.

“The propagation and facilitation of illegal adoption schemes in social media jeopardizes the safety and welfare of children in need of loving and caring families and is in violation of Republic Act No. 8552,” Vargas said in the resolution.

Republic Act No. 8552 or the Domestic Adoption Act of 1998 provides for the legal framework of adoption in the country.

“It is the duty of Congress to uphold the law and ensure that our children are protected from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to their development,” Vargas said.

Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos earlier slammed the illegal adoption of babies on Facebook, saying it is “a form of human trafficking.”

“Local citizens will be used as decoys to cross borders, as is the case in other countries, to evade detection by law enforcers,” Marcos said.

“Government must exact a commitment from Facebook Philippines to ban illegal adoption pages. The Bureau of Immigration must immediately strengthen border controls, especially when outbound travel involves children, no matter what age,” she added.

EDV