DOJ eyes complaints over ‘surrogacy scheme’ in Cambodia

The Department of Justice (DOJ) will look into the filing of complaints against local perpetrators behind the trafficking of Filipino women into becoming surrogate mothers in Cambodia, its spokesperson said Thursday.

Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said there are indicators that the perpetrators in Cambodia have accomplices in the Philippines.

“However, there are indicators that say na meron din kasabwat dito sa Pilipinas. So ‘yun po ‘yung mga perpetrators na ‘yan, kakasuhan na lang din natin dito sa Pilipinas,” Clavano said in a Zoom briefing.

(However, there are indications that suggest they have accomplices here in the Philippines. So, we will also prosecute those individuals here in the country.)

According to Clavano, recruiting a woman to bear a child for the purpose of selling her offspring is still considered trafficking under the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.

“(This is comparable to) child trafficking or infant trafficking because these are pretty much newborn children that they already have sold prior to their birth,” he said.

“Kaya mas elaborate, mas meticulous po ‘yung nagiging scheme dito sa mga traffickers na ito. But just the same, it’s a form of trafficking that’s punishable under our current laws,” he added.

(So the scheme of these traffickers is more elaborate, more meticulous. But just the same, it’s a form of trafficking that’s punishable under our current laws.)

On Wednesday, the Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh said the Cambodian National Police rescued 20 Filipino women in Kandal Province last September 23.

Of the 20 victims, 13 are in “various stages of pregnancy” and are currently in a local hospital.

Clavano said Cambodian law enforcers also confirmed that they arrested some individuals who have engaged in trafficking and sexual exploitation.

He said the perpetrators in Cambodia may be charged there.

“It’s completely possible din po na doon na lang natin icha-charge ‘yung mga traffickers because obviously the crime had some elements that were executed there,” Clavano said.

“However, of course, dahil ‘yung mga victims dito sa situation na ito ay mga Pilipino, we would prefer na dito mangyari ‘yung kaso. So, that will depend on our coordination and ‘yung ating arrangements with the Cambodian government and the Cambodian police,” he added.

(Of course, because the victims are Filipino, we would prefer that the case take place here. So that will depend on our coordination and our arrangements with the Cambodian government and the Cambodian police.)

Repatriation

Meanwhile, Clavano said the Justice Department is coordinating with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and the Department of Foreign Affairs for the repatriation of the Filipinos.

Clavano said that the women could have been recruited on social media.

“Based po sa ating mga preliminary interviews, the recruitment of Filipino women took place on the cyberspace, maybe Facebook or other social media platforms,” he said.

He said authorities are still looking into the nationality of the perpetrators and the victims.

Meanwhile, asked if the surrogate mothers can be held liable, Clavano said authorities have to check if they were led to believe one thing or another.

“It is very important that we identify whether or not they are victims because there is this principle called the non-punishment principle where you cannot and should not charge anything to those that are considered victims,” he said.

Clavano said the women may have been offered other jobs and were surprised about being a surrogate mother.

According to Clavano, the government previously encountered a similar scheme.

He said that in October 2023, a couple was offloaded because they were possible victims of the surrogate mother arrangement.

Meanwhile, he urged Overseas Filipino workers to undergo the proper process.

“Kagaya ng sinabi ng DFA, if it’s too good to be true, huwag po kayo maniwala dahil hindi po iyan totoo. Especially yung mga nakikita nating job opportunities online, nasa Facebook, kapag masyadong maganda yung opportunity, then huwag niyo na lang kunin,” he said.

(As the DFA said, if it sounds too good to be true, don't believe it because it's not true. Especially those job opportunities we see online, on Facebook, if the opportunity seems too good, then don't take it.)
—RF, GMA Integrated News