Manila, March 6 -- The National Authority for Child Care (NACC) has called on social media company Meta Platforms Philippines to immediately remove Facebook groups and accounts allegedly being used for online child trafficking, illegal adoption, and exploitation.

In a statement on Friday, NACC Undersecretary Janella Ejercito urged social media intermediaries to impose a total ban on groups that serve as platforms for "online baby selling" and other forms of child exploitation, adding that platforms cannot evade accountability by claiming they do not officially operate in the country.

"They are in fact liable under R.A. 11862, or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022, if they knowingly or by gross negligence allow their in...