29-12-2024 (MANILA) 13 Filipino women, previously imprisoned in Cambodia for their involvement in an illegal surrogacy scheme, have been granted royal clemency and successfully repatriated to the Philippines, officials confirmed today.
The women, who were arrested in September as part of a broader crackdown on illegal surrogacy operations, had been serving four-year sentences for attempted cross-border human trafficking. Their release came following an intervention by Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni, who issued royal pardons facilitating their return.
Upon their early morning arrival in Manila, the group, which includes ten pregnant women and three who had already given birth, were immediately transferred to a government-run shelter specialising in supporting trafficking victims. The Philippine Social Welfare Department has taken charge of their care and rehabilitation.
The case has highlighted the complex legal landscape surrounding surrogacy in Southeast Asia. Whilst Cambodia implemented a stringent ban on commercial surrogacy in 2016, following Thailand’s similar prohibition a year earlier, the practice continues to operate in the shadows. Industry insiders report that prospective parents, predominantly from China, are prepared to pay substantial sums ranging from US$40,000 and US$100,000 to arrange surrogacy services in Cambodia.
The Philippine authorities have used this incident to emphasise the legal risks associated with international surrogacy arrangements. A Foreign Ministry spokesperson noted that such activities remain strictly prohibited under Cambodian law, whilst acknowledging that the Philippines itself lacks clear legislation on the matter, creating what officials term a “legal grey area susceptible to exploitation.”
