The National Authority for Child Care (NACC) has clarified that it does not conduct online adoptions and warned the public against fake adoption schemes.

The agency is also raising concerns over the increasing prevalence of baby selling through online platforms.

According to Assistant Secretary for Programs and Services Rowena Macalintal, the NACC has monitored five entrapment operations in 2024 and eight in 2025. Alarmingly, just in the first quarter of 2026, seven cases have already been recorded.

"Since 2024, we've monitored five entrapment operations. In 2025, there were eight, and now, surprisingly, the first quarter isn't even over and we already have seven cases. These are just the operations coordinated with the PNP Women and Children Protection Center. There are other operations by the NBI and the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, and we're coordinating with them to consolidate data," Macalintal said.

As digital platforms continue to expand, they are increasingly being exploited for illegal transactions such as the online selling of children.

The seven first-quarter cases recorded by the Philippine National Police do not yet include ongoing operations by other law enforcement agencies or undetected groups operating through social media.

Macalintal revealed that some cases involve the biological parents themselves selling their own children.

"Unfortunately, some of them are the mothers and fathers of the children themselves. There was one mother who attempted to sell her child via a Facebook group for 12,000 to 15,000 pesos because she wanted capital for a food cart business," she said.

The NACC emphasized that it does not facilitate online adoptions.

"For those who want to adopt, there is no online adoption, so you should not resort to Facebook or the internet to look for a child to adopt," Macalintal stressed.

Meanwhile, the NACC warned that anyone who registers a child who is not their biological offspring as their own legitimate child may face criminal charges and imprisonment of eight to 10 years.

However, for cases covered under 2019 and earlier, individuals who took in children are given an opportunity to rectify the situation under the Simulated Birth Rectification Act, or Republic Act 11222.

The Simulated Birth Rectification Act is a law that provides an opportunity to correct fraudulent birth registrations where a child was registered as one's own despite not being the biological parent.

"Just file your petitions with local government units through your local social welfare and development offices. The simulated birth certificate will be canceled, the true birth certificate will be issued to show the real identity of the child you adopted, and it goes directly to the adoption process. There's no penalty, and even complicit nurses and midwives who conspired in the birth certificate can avail of amnesty under our law," Macalintal explained.

The grace period to legalize such cases is only until March 2029.

On the adoption process, the NACC assured the public that it is free of charge and only requires documents such as police clearance, medical evaluation and tests, and psychological evaluation.

Afterward, the child undergoes assessment by social workers for matching.

The agency reminded parents not to treat their children as commodities or abandon them.

If they cannot provide care, they should approach the NACC. The agency assured that this will not result in abandonment charges as long as it is done through proper channels to ensure the child is placed in a safe and caring environment.