To the Mom Who Sold Her Two-Week-Old Baby for ₱45,000: A Mom-to-Mom Open Letter

August 15, 2025 — News broke of a mother in Tanauan, Batangas who was arrested after attempting to sell her two-week-old infant online for ₱45,000.

According to reports from GMA Integrated News, the entrapment operation revealed that ₱25,000 was meant to pay hospital bills and ₱20,000 for the baby’s supposed “adoption.” Police also rescued her one-year-old child during the operation.

The mother, a single parent, explained that desperation drove her to such a decision:

“Hindi ko naman po gustong mangyari ito sa anak ko, kasi single parent po ako. Napilitan lang po ako kasi gusto kong mabayaran yung bill namin at wala akong mapagkukunan.”

But selling babies is illegal under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, with penalties reaching up to life imprisonment. Both sellers and buyers are held accountable under the law. The rescued children are now under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

An Open Letter, Mom to Mom

Mama,

Nabalitaan ko ang ginawa mo, and my heart broke. Hindi ko kayang i-imagine na ibenta ang sariling anak. Pero bago ako maghusga, naiintindihan ko rin na baka sa sobrang hirap—gutom, bayarin, at kawalan ng tulong—pakiramdam mo’y wala ka nang ibang pagpipilian.

Pero Mama, wala kang karapatang ibenta ang anak mo. Hindi siya presyo. Hindi siya palit sa pera. ????

Kapag ginawa mo ’yan, inilalagay mo siya sa matinding kapahamakan. Walang kasalanan ang bata, pero siya ang magdurusa. Worst case, pwede siyang:

• Maabuso at saktan

• Mahulog sa human trafficking

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• Lumaking walang pamilya o pagkakakilanlan

• Tuluyang mawala sa’yo magpakailanman

Hindi madaling maging ina, lalo na kung mag-isa. Hindi madaling mabuhay sa hirap. Pero Mama, may ibang daan: barangay, DSWD, simbahan, NGOs, kapitbahay. May tutulong, pero hindi kailanman solusyon ang pagbenta ng dugo’t laman mo.

A Plea to All Moms

To every mom reading this: hindi tayo nag-iisa. Ang pagiging ina ay punô ng hirap at sakripisyo—pero kasama rin ang pag-asa.

Kung hirap ka na, humingi ka ng tulong. May mga institusyon at komunidad na handang umalalay.

???? Need help?

• DSWD Hotline: 8888

• PNP Women & Children Protection Center: (02) 8532-6690

Mama, piliin nating lumaban kasama ng anak, hindi laban sa kanila. ❤️