Alleged surrogacy scheme victim intercepted at NAIA

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has raised alarm over increasing cases of women allegedly being trafficked abroad to become surrogate mothers. 

In a news release Wednesday, the BI said it stopped a 37-year-old woman, who allegedly fell victim to the scheme, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from boarding a Turkish Airlines flight bound for Batumi, Georgia.

The victim initially presented herself as a sales associate traveling to Georgia for work but upon secondary inspection, she admitted to being recruited as a surrogate mother online for a fee of P500,000. 

She also said a male recruiter contacted her via WhatsApp, offering P28,000 per month during pregnancy and a final payment of more than P500,000 after childbirth. She added that she was also offered medical treatments, documentation and travel costs, among other benefits. 

The victim was referred to the inter-agency council against trafficking for assistance and filing of cases against her recruiters.

Meanwhile, the  BI immigration protection and border enforcement section (I-PROBES) said the cases represent a new type of human trafficking scheme, linking forced labor to surrogacy arrangements. 

I-PROBES  also added that victims are initially offered favorable living conditions but ultimately face exploitation and abuse.

To recall, the Cambodian National Police rescued 20 Filipino women in Kandal Province last September 23 who were trafficked into being surrogate mothers. 

—Sundy Locus/ VAL, GMA Integrated News