Camille Naredo

The 13 Filipino surrogate mothers from Cambodia are welcomed back by different government agencies, December 29, 2024. Handout/DOJ

The 13 Filipino surrogate mothers from Cambodia are welcomed back by different government agencies, December 29, 2024

Article (news)

Cambodia 

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17355394559701735463788932122924_surrogate mothers.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The 13 Filipino surrogate mothers from Cambodia are welcomed back by different government agencies, December 29, 2024. Handout/DOJ"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The 13 Filipino surrogate mothers from Cambodia are welcomed back by different government agencies, December 29, 2024. <em>Handout/DOJ</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- The infants who were carried by Filipinas via an illegal surrogacy scheme in Cambodia may be up for adoption should the government deem that their surrogates are not fit to properly raise these children, an official from the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Monday.</p><p>The Cambodian government earlier pardoned 13 Filipinos who were involved in a surrogacy scheme, provided that the children that they bear will not be sold to any party, said Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/29/dfa-13-filipino-surrogates-now-under-dswd-custody-1721">READ: 13 Filipino surrogates now under DSWD custody -- DFA</a></div><p>&quot;Ayaw ng pamahalaan ng Cambodia na makonsuma, mabuo, ma-consummate yung transaction na maibenta yung mga sanggol sa mga nangontrata sa ating mga kababayan,&quot; he told state television PTV.</p><p>&quot;Kung makita natin na hindi kakayanin yun, maaaring sa estado na muna ang mga sanggol at iconsider ang mga posibilidad sa kanila tulad ng adoption,&quot; he said.</p><p>Of the 13 Filipinas, 3 have already given birth while the other 10 remain pregnant, the DOJ official said.</p><p>&quot;Diyan muna sila sa silungan ng DSWD hanggang handa na silang ireintegrate sa lipunan,&quot; Ty said. </p><p>&quot;Dapat hindi pabayaan ang mga sanggol. Dapat akuin kung hindi ng mga nanay, akuin ng mga Pilipinas ang mga sanggol,&quot; he said.</p><p>The 13 Filipinas will receive an aid package given to all victims of human trafficking, he said.</p><p>&quot;Kung maglakas loob sila na kasuhan yung mga recruiter nila, matitiyak namin na bibigyan sila ng proteksyon ng pamahalaan,&quot; Ty said.</p><p>&quot;May mga kinakausap ang mga awtoridad para makuha ang kanilang mga salaysay para sa mga kasong maaari nating isampa,&quot; he said.</p><p>The DOJ warned the public against shady recruiters who convince them to skirt proper labor and immigration procedures to work overseas.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/28/13-filipina-surrogates-jailed-in-cambodia-back-in-ph-after-getting-pardon-dfa-0757">READ: 13 Filipina surrogates jailed in Cambodia back in PH after getting pardon — DFA</a></div><p>&quot;Marami pa rin diyan ang gustong pagsamantalahan, gustong biktimahin ang mga kababayan natin na may kaunting kahinaan o humaharap sa kahirapan,&quot; the Justice Undersecretary said.</p><p>&quot;Magsing mas alisto tayo, maging mas mulat tayo. Huwag tayo basta-basta magtitiwala,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Sana ireport niyo sa amin para mahanap namin yung mga nagrerecruit at maiharap namin sila sa batas.&quot;</p><p>Most of the 13 Filipinas were in their 20s and were recruited online, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega earlier told ANC.</p><p>They departed the Philippines through backdoor channels, including a boat ride from Mindanao to Malaysia to skip immigration checks in airports, he said.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kFsYusMycy0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The infants who were carried by Filipinas via an illegal surrogacy scheme in Cambodia may be up for adoption should the government deem that their surrogates are not fit to properly raise these children.</p>

The infants who were carried by Filipinas via an illegal surrogacy scheme in Cambodia may be up for adoption should the government deem that their surrogates are not fit to properly raise these children.

Infants from illegal surrogacy scheme may be up for adoption: DOJ

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Infants from illegal surrogacy scheme may be up for adoption: DOJ

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 30, 2024 02:27 PM PHT

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Cambodia

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