Thirteen pregnant women from the Philippines, accused of acting as surrogate mothers in Cambodia, may face prison sentences after giving birth. This information was shared by a senior official from the Interior Ministry on Saturday.
Chou Bun Eng, the Secretary of State for the Interior Ministry and head of the country’s fight against human trafficking, reported that police discovered 24 foreign women during a raid on a villa in Kandal province, close to Phnom Penh, on September 23. Among them were 20 Filipina women and four Vietnamese women.
On October 1, the thirteen pregnant women were charged under Cambodia’s law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation. This law was updated in 2016 to prohibit commercial surrogacy after Cambodia became a popular destination for foreigners seeking surrogates to bear their children.
Developing countries like Cambodia are appealing for surrogacy due to lower costs compared to countries like the United States and Australia, where services can cost around $150,000. The surrogacy business thrived in Cambodia after strict regulations were imposed in neighboring Thailand, as well as in India and Nepal.
In July 2017, a Cambodian court sentenced an Australian woman and two local associates to 1.5 years in prison for offering commercial surrogacy services.
This current case is notable because surrogates are typically found in their own countries, not transported elsewhere. Cambodia already has a negative reputation for human trafficking, especially in relation to online scams. In these scams, foreigners are recruited for jobs under false pretenses and kept in virtual slavery, helping to perpetrate criminal fraud globally.
Details of this new surrogacy case remain unclear. Officials have not confirmed whether the women were arrested or if any organizers have been identified.
Chou Bun Eng informed The Associated Press that the business responsible for recruiting the surrogates was based in Thailand. The women’s food and accommodation in Cambodia were also arranged from there. Authorities have not yet identified the business involved.
The seven Philippine women and four Vietnamese women caught in the raid who were not pregnant will soon be deported. The thirteen pregnant women are currently receiving care at a hospital in Phnom Penh. After giving birth, they could face charges that may result in prison sentences of two to five years.
Chou Bun Eng stated that the Cambodian government views these women not as victims, but as offenders who conspired with organizers to serve as surrogates and sell the babies for profit. This assertion cannot be verified, as the women have not been reachable, and it is unknown if they have legal representation.
In response to a local news report on the situation, the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia confirmed most details, referring to the incident as the “rescue of 20 Filipino women.” The Embassy ensured that all 20 Filipinos were interviewed with an Embassy representative and an interpreter present throughout the investigation.
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