Statement of the Philippine Embassy on the Khmer Times article titled “Philippines Agency brings Filipinas to Cambodia to be Surrogate Mums.”

The Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh confirms the rescue of 20 Filipino women by the Cambodian National Police (CNP) in Kandal Province on 23 September 2024. Of the 20 women, 13 are in various stages of pregnancy and are now sheltered in a local hospital.  The remaining seven are awaiting repatriation. The Cambodian law enforcement authorities have confirmed that the rescue was made in line with the country’s Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation. 

The Philippine Embassy ensured that all 20 Filipinos were interviewed in the presence of an Embassy representative and an interpreter in every step of the investigation process.  They are visited by Embassy officials for timely assistance-to-nationals services,  including support for their personal and pre-natal needs. 

Based on preliminary interviews, the recruitment of these 20 Filipino women took place in cyberspace by an individual whose identity and nationality have yet to be determined conclusively.  The recruiter with an apparently assumed name arranged for the women to travel to another Southeast Asian country but eventually sent them to Cambodia where surrogacy is banned. In the Philippines, a regulatory framework for Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and Surrogacy procedures has yet to be crafted.

The Embassy emphasizes that human trafficking is a transnational crime, and aside from the Filipino women, the involvement of other nationalities has been established.  At the time of their rescue, the women were found to be under the care of a local “nanny”, together with four other women from a neighboring country. 

The Embassy continues to closely coordinate with the Cambodian authorities for the speedy resolution of this case, with a view to protecting the rights and welfare of the Filipino women. 

The Philippine Government does not condone human trafficking activities and remains steadfast in bringing perpetrators to justice.

The Embassy will continue to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and international partners to resolutely and proactively address human trafficking in all forms. 

The Embassy and NCCT agree that close cooperation in this case could strengthen joint efforts of the Philippines and Cambodia in combating transnational crime. END