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

13 Filipino surrogate mothers

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1735463788932122924_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"/>The 13 Filipino surrogate mothers from Cambodia are welcomed back by different government agencies, December 29, 2024. Handout/DOJ</div>MANILA (UPDATED) -- The Department of Foreign Affairs extended its gratitude to the Cambodian government following the safe repatriation of 13 Filipino surrogates early Sunday morning, Dec. 29. DFA Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega called it a “positive piece of news” as she acknowledged the diplomatic efforts of Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh. “Originally, there were 20, pero yung iba nakauwi na because hindi sila nagdadalang tao. Pero &#x27;yung mga pregnant, sila &#x27;yung kinasuhan ng Cambodian authorities pero awa ng Dios dahil sa ating pakiusap ay binigyan sila ng Royal pardon,” De Vega told ABS-CBN News in a phone interview on Sunday, Dec. 29. Out of the 13, three have already given birth. “Tatlo nanganak na, dala nila &#x27;yung sanggol nila, one of the women is actually 37 weeks pregnant. So malapit na. So we had to bring a medical attendant as we required by PAL,” he added. The Filipino surrogates are now under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development while the Department of Migrant Workers have provided temporary shelters. The DFA, through the Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh, also gave $1,000 financial assistance. The children to be born will also be registered in the Philippines. “So in fact naregister na sila, &#x27;yung tatlo. Naregister na may record of birth ang Cambodia na report from the embassy. And &#x27;yung mga manganganak dito, they will be registered the Philippine birth certificate na anak, walang tatay, walang indicated na father pero anak sila ng nanay,” he added. De Vega reminded Filipinos that surrogacy in Cambodia is prohibited and to undergo legal processes with the DMW. “Babala sa ating mga kababayan, &#x27;wag niyong gawin &#x27;to kasi bawal &#x27;to sa Cambodia. Kahit na sabihin Thailand gagawin, sila sinabihan sila by internet recruiters, sa Thailand. Pagdating sa Thailand nilipat sila sa Cambodia where it is illegal. Mga kababayan, bago magtrabaho in Southeast Asia or anywhere, dapat dumaan ng proseso sa DMW para alam ninyo na recognized yung employer ninyo,” he emphasized.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1735477121660Gf9CNZkaoAAsyMl.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The Filipina surrogate mothers are welcomed by the DSWD at NAIA on December 29, 2024. Handout/DSWD"/>The Filipina surrogate mothers are welcomed by the DSWD at NAIA on December 29, 2024. Handout/DSWD</div>In a separate statement, the DSWD said that the 13 Filipinas were welcomed at NAIA by Elaine Fallarcuna, their Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, Attached and Supervised Agencies.Fallarcuna accompanied the mothers and the three babies to one of the agency&#x27;s care facilities in the National Capital Region.The DSWD&#x27;s field office in NCR has also been instructed by Secretary Rex Gatchalian to &quot;render all the needed assistance under the Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP).&quot;Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) warned Filipinos against offers that &quot;may seem too good to be true, but could lead against exploitation.&quot;They also advised Filipinos to report suspicious activities or potential human trafficking incidences to the DOJ and IACAT.

The Department of Foreign Affairs extended its gratitude to the Cambodian government following the safe repatriation of 13 Filipino surrogates early Sunday morning, Dec. 29.

The Department of Foreign Affairs extended its gratitude to the Cambodian government following the safe repatriation of 13 Filipino surrogates early Sunday morning, Dec. 29.

DFA: 13 Filipino surrogates now under DSWD custody | ABS-CBN

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DFA: 13 Filipino surrogates now under DSWD custody

DFA: 13 Filipino surrogates now under DSWD custody

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 29, 2024 05:21 PM PHT

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Updated Dec 29, 2024 08:59 PM PHT

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