The 13 Filipino surrogate mothers from Cambodia are welcomed back by different government agencies, December 29, 2024. Handout/DOJ

Mothers

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17356274706171735463788932122924_surrogate mothers.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The 13 Filipino surrogate mothers from Cambodia are welcomed back by different government agencies, December 29, 2024. <em>Handout/DOJ</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Some of the 13 surrogate mothers repatriated from Cambodia have been reunited with their respective families &quot;in time for the New Year&quot; following their arrival in the Philippines, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Tuesday. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/11/senate-probe-sought-into-surrogacy-scheme-victimizing-filipinas-918">Senate probe sought into &#x27;surrogacy scheme&#x27; victimizing Filipinas</a></div><p>&quot;The reunion with their respective families before the New Year can be considered the best Christmas gift the DSWD can give them,” DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said.</p><p>The 13 Filipinas were convicted in Cambodia for illegally acting as surrogate mothers, but Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni granted them pardon on Dec. 26.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/28/13-filipina-surrogates-jailed-in-cambodia-back-in-ph-after-getting-pardon-dfa-0757">13 Filipina surrogates jailed in Cambodia back in PH after getting pardon — DFA</a></div><p>They arrived in the Philippines on Sunday.</p><p>Out of the 13, three have already given birth, while the 10 others are expecting their respective babies anytime in 2025.</p><p>According to DSWD, 7 surrogate mothers have already been reintegrated to their respective families while 2 other surrogate mothers are scheduled for reintegration on January 4. The remaining 4 mothers opted to stay with the DSWD for the meantime.</p><p>The 13 Filipina mothers were among the 24 foreign women caught by Cambodian police in Kandal province in September 2024 and charged with attempted cross-border human trafficking.</p><p>Sen. Risa Hontiveros has sought a Senate investigation into the alleged &quot;surrogacy scheme&quot; victimizing Filipino women.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CSMAg-Y3yKA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Some of the 13 surrogate mothers repatriated from Cambodia have been reunited with their respective families "in time for the New Year," the DSWD said.</p>

Some of the 13 surrogate mothers repatriated from Cambodia have been reunited with their respective families "in time for the New Year," the DSWD said.

Filipina surrogates pardoned by Cambodia reunited with families before New Year | ABS-CBN

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Filipina surrogates pardoned by Cambodia reunited with families before New Year

Filipina surrogates pardoned by Cambodia reunited with families before New Year

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 31, 2024 02:59 PM PHT

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surrogate

surrogacy

surrogacy scheme

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human trafficking

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