BI stops would-be surrogate mother from leaving PH

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) stopped the exit of a woman recruited as a surrogate mother to Cyprus, according to a statement by the bureau and a separate "24 Oras" report by Emil Sumangil.

The 34-year-old victim attempted to board a flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 as a solo traveler purportedly on a leisure trip, but presented an invitation from an in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinic.

“Medyo naging suspicious po ang ating immigration officer dahil sali-saliwa po ang mga sagot niya sa basic questions… Mukhang through IVF po yung mangyayari dahil pinarequire po siya na kumuha ng mga medical certificates at mayroon po silang kausap na IVF clinic doon sa bansang Cyprus na siya umanong tutulong na mabuntis yung babae,” said BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval on the 24 Oras report.

(Our immigration officer became suspicious because her answers to basic questions were inconsistent… It seems as if the pregnancy will occur through IVF because she was required to get medical certificates, and she was talking to an IVF clinic in Cyprus that will allegedly help her get pregnant.)

It was later revealed that the victim was attempting to be a surrogate mother for an individual she met on a dating app, and was promised P300,000 upon childbirth.

“Ang inalok sa kanya ay P300,000 kapalit po sa pagaanak sa isang bata at pagbigay doon sa foreign national ng sanggol na yon,” Sandoval added.

(She was offered P300,000 in exchange for giving birth to a child and handing it over to a foreign national.)

"The scheme continues to thrive, leading to a rise in online offers for surrogacy or IVF-related services, with victims often coerced into passing certain laboratory assessments. We warn females not to be tempted to agree to such schemes as this is a clear form of trafficking," said BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.

BI said that the increased cases of human trafficking for surrogacy often targeted individuals who were on social media or single job hunters.

“Ang alok po, as high as P500,000 [to] P800,000 with a monthly stipend,” Sandoval said.

(The offers were as high as P500,000 [to] P800,000 with a monthly stipend.)

“Hindi po masama na maghanap ng greener pastures abroad, pero wag po sa ganitong paraan. Ito po ay clear way ng human trafficking kasi ito ay talagang pagbebenta o paparenta ng kaniyang sinapupunan para sa iba, sa gain ng ibang tao,” she added.

(There is nothing wrong with seeking greener pastures abroad, but it shouldn’t be this way. This is a clear case of human trafficking because this is really the selling or renting of the womb for others, for the gain of other people.)

The victim has been turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for further assistance. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News