A 17-year-old mother was arrested in Quezon City on Monday, 6 January, for allegedly selling her one-month-old baby for P55,000 through Facebook, the National Authority for Child Care (NACC) reported Thursday.

The suspect was taken into custody following a law enforcement operation that uncovered the online transaction, which authorities said falls under illegal adoption and child trafficking.

“While the NACC is firm in its campaign against illegal adoption and child trafficking and exploitation, through online baby selling, we also need to underscore the critical importance of providing support mechanisms for adolescent mothers,” Undersecretary Janella Estrada said.

Earlier this week, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced that its 2026 priority programs will include the Psychosocial Support and Other Interventions for Adolescent Mothers and their Families Project, known as ProtecTEEN.

ProtecTEEN aims to advance the holistic well-being of adolescent mothers by providing strengthened psychosocial interventions, parenting support and capacity-building, access to educational and livelihood opportunities, and referral mechanisms to relevant agencies for comprehensive assistance.

“The goal of ProtecTEEN is to empower young mothers, engage their families, and create a supportive environment to ensure that they can navigate their circumstances and become productive members of society, thereby safeguarding their rights and the future of their children,” Estrada explained.

She urged adolescent mothers and their families “to seek the assistance provided through DSWD field offices and local government units, to ensure that the rights and welfare of both the child and the mother are protected.”

The NACC said it continues to work closely with law enforcement agencies to curb “online baby selling,” which it described as a growing form of child trafficking and illegal adoption facilitated through social media platforms.