Gatchalian urges IACAT to crack down on sale of babies online
May 25, 2024
Gatchalian urges IACAT to crack down on sale of babies online
Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) to crack down on the sale of babies online, which have become rampant on Facebook.
In a press briefing, Department of Social Welfare and Development-National Authority on Child Care (DSWD-NACC) Executive Director and DSWD Undersecretary Janella Estrada said that authorities monitored around 20 to 40 Facebook accounts that buy and sell children. In one case, the Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Center foiled the sale of an eight-day old child for P50,000 up to P90,000.
Gatchalian emphasized that those engaged in the buying and selling of babies should be held liable under the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022 (Republic Act No. 11862), a law that he co-authored and co-sponsored during the 18th Congress.
The law penalizes child laundering, which is defined as the selling and stealing of children under false pretenses. Child laundering also refers to the use of schemes such as falsifying or manipulating children's details or origins to make them appear as orphans or foundlings. The law also prohibits other forms of human trafficking such as the online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
"Nakakabahala na nagiging talamak ang bentahan ng mga sanggol sa social media. Kailangan nating sugpuin ang ganitong mga kalakaran lalo na't ito'y maituturing na pang-aabuso. Nananawagan din ako sa ating mga law enforcement agencies na paigtingin ang kanilang pagsugpo sa ganitong mga iligal na gawain," said Gatchalian.
The Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022 gives law enforcers additional tools to pursue human traffickers both online and offline. The law also provides that internet intermediaries such as social media networks shall be liable for allowing the use of their platforms for trafficking.
Gatchalian hinimok ang IACAT na sugpuin ang online na bentahan ng mga sanggol
Hinimok ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) na sugpuin ang nagiging talamak na bentahan ng mga sanggol sa Facebook.
Sa isang press briefing kamakailan, iniulat ni Department of Social Welfare and Development-National Authority on Child Care (DSWD-NACC) Executive Director at DSWD Undersecretary Janella Estrada na may 20 hanggang 40 Facebook accounts silang minomonitor na bumibili at nagbebenta ng mga sanggol. Sa isang kaso, napigilan ng Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Center ang pagbebenta sa isang sanggol walong araw matapos isilang. Tinangkang ibenta ang naturang sanggol sa halagang P50,000 hanggang P90,000.
Ayon kay Gatchalian, dapat managot ang mga sangkot sa gawaing ito sa ilalim ng Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022 (Republic Act No. 11862), isang batas kung saan isa siya sa mga may akda at co-sponsor noong 18th Congress.
Ipinagbabawal ng batas ang child laundering o ang pagbebenta o pagbili ng mga bata gamit ang pagpapanggap. Maituturing na child laundering ang paggamit ng mga paraan tulad ng pamemeke ng mga detalye upang palabasing ulila ang isang bata. Ipinagbabawal din ng naturang batas ang iba pang anyo ng human trafficking tulad ng online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
"Nakakabahala na nagiging talamak ang bentahan ng mga sanggol sa social media. Kailangan nating sugpuin ang ganitong mga kalakaran lalo na't ito'y maituturing na pang-aabuso. Nananawagan din ako sa ating mga law enforcement agencies na paigtingin ang kanilang pagsugpo sa ganitong mga iligal na gawain," ani Gatchalian.
Pinatatatag ng Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022 ang kakayahan ng mga law enforcers na mahuli ang mga traffickers online man o offline. Sa ilalim ng naturang batas, maaaring managot ang mga internet intermediaries kabilang ang mga social media networks kung hahayaan nilang magamit ang kanilang mga platofrm para sa trafficking.
EIN Presswire does not exercise editorial control over third-party content provided, uploaded, published, or distributed by users of EIN Presswire. We are a distributor, not a publisher, of 3rd party content. Such content may contain the views, opinions, statements, offers, and other material of the respective users, suppliers, participants, or authors.
