The Department of Justice in Manila has declared that the 13 Filipino women, who were recently brought back from Cambodia, will receive extensive support 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 to the Philippines on Sunday, the women, who had 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 fully implement the Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP).
This program offers a range of services such as food, financial aid, educational and livelihood support, medical assistance, and training to aid employment. It also includes case management to assess and address the specific needs of the victims, implement interventions, and monitor their progress.
Justice Undersecretary Ty also highlighted the government’s ongoing vigilance against human trafficking, particularly targeting recruiters involved in the Cambodian surrogacy scandal. He noted that the Bureau of Immigration is actively working to ensure Filipinos leave the country for legitimate reasons only, and several women have been rescued from similar situations, with their recruiters now facing legal charges.
The repatriation of these women followed a royal pardon by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni. They had been convicted in Cambodia for illegal surrogacy, a practice that has been outlawed there since 2016 and is treated as a felony.