DOJ Files Child Trafficking, Exploitation, Rape Charges Against 2 Baby Sellers

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice said Monday it filed qualified charges of child trafficking and exploitation against two newborn sellers in the Manila Regional Trial Court.

The DOJ filed charges against Arjay Malabanan and Ma. Chariza Dizon after the two were caught marketing a newborn baby online.

“The evidence presented sufficiently establishes the crime of capital trafficking: the respondents facilitated the adoption of the newborn; the facilitation of adoption was for a consideration of P90,000; the aim was to facilitate illegal adoption; the victim of trafficking is a child; and the act of trafficking was committed by or through the use of ICT or any computer system, the transaction having been carried out via the Facebook messaging platform,” the DOJ resolution states.

The case stems from a complaint filed by the Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC) against Malabanan and Dizon with the DOJ.

On February 12, the PNP-WCPC responded to reports from the National Authority for Child Care (NACC) regarding the emergence of a “black market” on social media groups where prospective parents were attempting to adopt illegally children.

A few days later, the PNP-WCPC, with the help of a policewoman posing as a buyer, managed to arrange a transaction with an individual known as “Kuy's Jay”, who was later identified as being Malabanan. He offered to sell a newborn baby for P90,000.

The policewoman and “Kuy's Jay” agreed to meet at Concepcion Church in Dasmariñas Town, Cavite, where the latter was apprehended along with the baby's mother, Dizon.

Prosecutors recommended bail for the child exploitation charges amounting to P80,000.

On the other hand, the qualified trafficking charge cannot give rise to bail.