The Department of Justice in Manila has declared that the 13 Filipino women recently brought back from Cambodia will receive full governmental support, recognizing them as victims of human trafficking. Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty emphasized during a news forum that these women would be provided with all possible state benefits, including psycho-social counseling and medical services, particularly crucial for those who are pregnant or have recently given birth.
Upon their return on Sunday, the women, who served as surrogate mothers, along with three of their infants, were immediately placed in a care facility managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian has instructed the agency’s Field Office in the National Capital Region to offer comprehensive assistance under the Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP).
This program includes essential services such as food, financial aid, education, livelihood support, and medical care. It also extends to auxiliary services for ongoing cases, training to aid employment, and thorough case management which involves assessing needs, implementing interventions, and tracking progress.
Undersecretary Ty also highlighted the government’s ongoing vigilance against human trafficking recruiters, particularly those involved in the Cambodian surrogacy network. He noted that the Bureau of Immigration is actively monitoring to ensure Filipinos leaving the country do so for legitimate reasons. Several women attempting to leave for surrogacy purposes have been intercepted and rescued, with their recruiters now facing legal charges.
The government is also intensifying efforts to educate the public about the risks associated with human trafficking. The repatriation of these 13 women followed a royal pardon by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni. Surrogacy has been outlawed in Cambodia since 2016, with violations treated as serious crimes.