Atom Araullo exposes that baby-selling is an overlooked issue that is dehumanizing and wrong. As citizens fight for stronger institutions, we can lessen the impact of the factors contributing to this issue which include inefficient online rules, the inadequate help for impoverished families, and the weakness of pre-existing laws that are supposed to protect the vulnerable, further solidifying the need of international cooperation through United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

First, we will look into Atom Araullo’s work as a journalist. Araullo is an exemplary journalist, and has gained career-long success through his factual and ethical work such as his docu-series episode titled “BABIES4SALE.PH”. Araullo is known for his intense, investigative-like techniques, which provides the audience with in-depth, accurate information on the issue. According to Happer and Philo (2013), the power of media coverage can be a fundamental component in producing tangible change since the media can easily influence the public’s beliefs, opinions, and attitudes through common agreement and persuasion. According to “Latest modern slavery fight updates” (2020), babies are sold through various illegal means such as underground markets, online platforms, and social media. These children are bought under the guise of “legal adoption” and are sold to any individuals, whether national or international, willing to pay the asked amount for the child (Farka, 2011). This illegal practice often takes advantage of the vulnerable such as women, children, and the impoverished who feel they don’t have any other choice other than to sell their own children for a quick gain in money and financial support. If stricter regulations were implemented on these platforms, such as identity verification and proper post approval in groups, we could limit the amount of anonymous traffickers utilizing these services to prey on vulnerable mothers and children. According to “Sustainable Development Goal 16” (n.d.), SDG 16 advocates for peace, justice, and strong institutions in order to protect all human rights, and that includes children who do not yet have the ability to fight for their rights.

Moving on, let’s now evaluate the three main and identified factors contributing to the growth of illegal baby-selling within the Philippines. The first factor is that illegal baby-selling transactions take place and thrive because of inefficient online regulations. According to Beltran (2024), since online platforms are often under-monitored, it makes it the perfect platform for people to illegally buy and sell babies. This allows traffickers to take advantage of these loose ends in order to facilitate child trafficking. The second main factor contributing to this issue is poverty and the lack of support coming from the government which may push families to resort to illegal adoption and baby-selling. New mothers who are not financially stable who have a new child are often shocked both mentally and financially with this new life they must care for, leading them to make rash decisions (Promchertchoo, 2020). To add to this, according to Peter et al. (2019), since vulnerable birth mothers lack support from the government, they don’t have many options for financial help, general parental guidance, or help to raise their child.

The last main factor identified is that due to the government’s weak laws and weak enforcement, the vulnerable victims of illegal baby selling are not protected by the government. According to the “2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Philippines” (2023), existing policies within the Philippines are ineffective since they don’t actually prevent or punish those who illegally sell or buy babies. Furthermore, REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11642 was passed in January of 2022 declaring that the Philippines should “Establish a system of cooperation with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking to prevent the sale, trafficking, and abduction of children”. However, this act proved to be ineffective when Mama Fatima Singhateh, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children, stated in the end of 2022 that the Philippines continues to remain as a prime source and destination for child trafficking despite new policy efforts (Ombay, 2022).

Lastly, we will address how the media and public advocacies have a huge role in promoting change for social issues. According to “‘Babies4Sale.PH’ in ‘The Atom Araullo Specials’” (2019), Atom Araullo’s documentaries inform and encourage both national and international awareness for various issues that are often overlooked. However, in order to properly address illegal baby-selling within the Philippines, stronger laws and policies are needed as soon as possible. According to the “2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Philippines” (2023), if child protection laws were properly reinforced and acknowledged, we could significantly reduce the risk of illegal baby-selling taking place. Since human trafficking thrives through international connections, international help and cooperation is essential in order to put a stop to both national and international trafficking efforts (Da Silva Almeida et al., 2024).

In relation to SDG 16, UNICEF and INTERPOL signed a mutual agreement in 2023 to stop child abuse and violence, a plea to fight for children’s fundamental rights. An important aspect to remember is that the prevention of illegal baby-selling within our country starts with us, especially with the help of public awareness and proper education on this matter. According to “The United Nations in Philippines” (2024), we should prioritize the use of local means such as campaigns in order to truly inform all communities, both big and small, about the risks, effects, and consequences of illegal baby-selling. This way, we can stop the issue of baby-selling before it even physically happens.

Let us now evaluate Araullo, his campaign, and this issue using a social science perspective. This issue of baby-selling is most likely to occur within low-class or impoverished individuals, while high-class, privileged individuals rarely sell their children, in fact they may be the ones paying a high amount for the same “adoptees”. This is a clear example of conflict theory where inequality thrives, where the rich become richer and the poor become poorer. Atom Araullo’s advocacies contribute to sociology since his documentaries always explore various social issues, inequalities, and human interactions across different institutions. However, on a deeper level, Araullo’s exposing of baby-selling within the Philippines specifically contributes to political science since his investigative journalism attacks corruption and poor government policies as one of the main causes for baby-selling. After Araullo’s episode on baby-selling was released in 2019, many government campaigns have been launched in order to seize this crime, and child trafficking rates have been going down since then. Araullo’s influence and role in the media has helped advocate for fundamental human rights, and his unbiased yet factual work has brought significant governmental changes in trafficking reduction efforts and disaster recovery. Araullo’s ultimate goal as a journalist is to constantly fight for justice for all since he is known for helping marginalized communities. An example of this is his role as a current Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and often goes on missions to help refugees who have been displaced.

Araullo has inspired me to also fight for my own advocacy called “Little No more”, where campaigns go around marginalized communities and teach young children to learn and fight for their rights. As an individual, I aspire to be like Atom Araullo and his never-ending voice that fights for those who have been silenced. In the future, I hope to become a practitioner of the social sciences who really makes a difference in our classist society, a difference that spans across all generations despite changing systems and institutions.

Atom Araullo is a superb example of someone who exemplifies compassion, integrity, service, and social responsibility, all of which are Gospel values that brighten God’s guidance and light. Araullo exemplifies compassion through his love for marginalized communities, where he fights to make sure that he can be the voice for those who are silenced. Atom always prioritizes others and always goes out of his way to help, volunteer, and care for all. For example, Atom is known for going on humanitarian missions where he commits to helping displaced refugees across all nations. Atom’s integrity in exposing the truth is never-ending, where he remains honest and trustworthy so that people may be guided by the truth. He is consistent in remaining factual yet considerate to victims in all of his advocacies, further proving his love for all no matter the circumstances. Araullo is always serving others, and always wants to benefit others instead of himself. After his rise to fame, he decided to devote his time and money to always serving others instead of himself. He reminds us that it’s okay to seek help, and in Araullo, we see a prime example of what we should strive to do for others. He always helps others without expecting anything back. Araullo’s social responsibility is to fight for the truth, as God fought for us. Ephesians 4:15 says that “We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church”. Atom Araullo is like the head of journalism, with the way he always seeks the truth through thorough investigations while also remaining ethical. He guides us to fight for what’s right, and to fight for a just society. He lives a virtuous life, where he is always seeking to inform, guide, and fight for what’s right. Araullo’s life of unwavering, powerful journalism shows us that his advocacies seek nothing but the best for others, and never for the benefit of himself.

As a Lasallian, understanding the topic of dehumanizing baby-selling helps me become fully human. After learning about the fate that these unsuspecting children face, I can’t help but to feel sadness for these innocent children who can’t advocate for their rights. In learning about this issue, I have become endlessly grateful for everything I have in life, and for all my blessings. I want to do everything I can in my power to help put an end to this issue, and to spread God’s word. I have learned that in order to become fully human, I must accept that I cannot fix issues on my own, but I do have the power to help in all ways possible by spreading awareness, and the word of God. My efforts can push others to help me stop this issue, and to help our society and world become a better place, like God intended it to be.

Atom Araullo’s advocacy unveils the dire need for better laws, more help from social services, and international collaboration in order to truly combat the demoralizing and harmful issue of baby-selling within the Philippines. If actions aren’t taken soon enough, countless newborns and children will continue to be subjected to the fate of unjustifiable, non-consensual baby-selling. For policymakers and the government, we should push to enforce better laws, and advocate for international cooperation in order to build a strong defense system to combat global networking efforts of human trafficking. Let us be their unwavering voice to ensure that this issue is addressed soon, so that we may continue to fight towards achieving SDG 16 through protecting vulnerable children and families of our nation. Let us continue to fight for the fate of innocent children’s lives that lie upon our shoulders.

Related Stories: