A man involved in the sale of infants was apprehended during an operation conducted by the Philippine National Police’s Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) outside a church in Dasmariñas, Cavite on Wednesday.

The suspect was caught attempting to sell a baby, who was subsequently rescued by the police. The mother of the infant, who had also participated in the transaction, was also arrested.

According to the WCPC’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division, the arrested man acted as an agent or broker. Allegedly, the baby’s mother was compelled to sell her own child after being abandoned by the father. The mother traveled from Tondo, Manila to Dasmariñas to complete the transaction. The operation took two weeks to organize before the WCPC operatives executed the buy-bust.

Both the broker and the infant’s mother will face charges under the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022, which carries a penalty of life imprisonment.

Authorities have noted an alarming trend where some pregnant individuals choose to sell their children rather than seek abortion. Additionally, cases of illegal adoption, known as “online baby trade,” involving certain Facebook groups, are on the rise.