The Philippine National Police (PNP) has filed 19 criminal cases against 30 individuals involved in illegal adoption and child selling since 2024, officials said Monday.

Brig. Gen. Maria Sheila Portento, chief of the PNP Women and Children’s Protection Center (WCPC), told reporters at Camp Crame that the operations have rescued 21 victims over the last two years.

Data from the WCPC shows a sharp increase in activity. Five cases were filed in 2024 and eight in 2025. In just the first five weeks of 2026, police have already conducted six operations and filed six cases.

One conviction was secured in 2024 for human trafficking and violations of the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

Portento cited that the accessibility of social media and online platforms has made these crimes more prevalent and difficult to track.

“The fact that we have conducted six operations just as February begins is alarming,” Portento said. “We are investigating thoroughly because there may be many more hidden cases behind those we have stumbled upon.”

The WCPC chief clarified that these figures only reflect operations led by her unit and do not account for all illegal adoption cases nationwide.

In response to the trend, the PNP is working with the National Authority for Child Care (NACC) to educate the public on legal adoption. Portento stressed that recent reforms have made the process faster and less expensive by shifting it from a judicial to an administrative procedure.

“In the past, you had to go through long court proceedings, but now the process is administrative and much easier,” Portento said. She encouraged prospective parents to visit NACC regional offices rather than seeking children through unregulated online groups.