The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced the successful reunification of all 13 Filipina surrogate mothers and their babies with their families, following their repatriation from Cambodia. The women and children had been temporarily housed in a DSWD care facility in Metro Manila before being reintegrated with their loved ones. Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao shared that the final group of five mothers and two babies were reunited with their families in Mindanao, facilitated by DSWD Field Office 11 in Davao Region. Earlier, three mothers and two babies from the Haven for Women in Muntinlupa were also flown back to their provinces in Mindanao. The DSWD’s social workers played a crucial role in ensuring a safe and smooth transition for everyone involved. The first group of surrogate mothers and a baby were reintegrated just before New Year’s Eve. These women were part of a larger group of 24 foreign women arrested in Cambodia’s Kandal province in September 2024 on charges related to attempted cross-border human trafficking. Their return to the Philippines was made possible after receiving a Royal Pardon, facilitated by the Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh with support from the Cambodian government. The DSWD emphasized its dedication to safeguarding Filipinos from human trafficking and other forms of exploitation, both at home and abroad.
13 Filipina Surrogate Mothers and Their Babies Reunited with Families After Cambodia Ordeal
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