KhmerTimes-Nov 5, 2024
Seven of the 20 Filipino women who were recruited as surrogate mothers in Cambodia were repatriated to the Philippines safely on October 23, the Philippines Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Saturday. Aged between 20 and 30, the victims reported being recruited abroad to work as surrogate mothers for unknown clients. The Philippines-BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado raised alarms over a growing human trafficking scheme following the case. Viado noted that investigations reveal a typical scheme where traffickers recruit online, then arrange complex travel through multiple borders to avoid detection. Three of the victims left the country claiming tourist visits to relatives but were deceived by false promises about surrogacy, while the remaining four had no records, indicating they likely exited through unauthorized means, the BI said. This surrogacy case, which is banned in Cambodia, was first discussed as Philippine Ambassador Flerida Ann Camille P. Mayo held a meeting with Chou Bun Eng, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Interior and the Permanent Vice-Chairwoman of the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT) in early October. Bun Eng told Khmer Times yesterday that the investigation is ongoing, while the remaining 13 women remain in Cambodia, being charged for illegal surrogacy. “The seven women were not pregnant, so they were not charged for any illegality.” She added that the 13 remaining women said that they were about to sell the babies following the delivery. “It is totally banned in Cambodia; they can do it anywhere that the surrogacy is legal but definitely not in Cambodia.” Read more at:
