The Philippine Embassy in Cambodia confirmed that 20 Filipino women were rescued from a surrogacy operation in Cambodia. The Cambodian National Police conducted a rescue operation on September 23 in Kandal Province, located in the southeast of the country.
Of the 20 rescued women, 13 are pregnant and are currently being cared for at a local hospital. The remaining seven are awaiting their return to the Philippines. According to the report, the women were sent to Cambodia to become surrogate mothers, an illegal practice in the said country.
The rescue operation is part of Cambodia's efforts to combat human trafficking and sexual exploitation. The embassy ensured that the rescued women received adequate support, including visits from embassy officials to help them with their personal and prenatal needs.
Interviews revealed that the girls were recruited online by an as-yet-unidentified recruiter, who arranged for them to travel to another Southeast Asian country before sending them to Cambodia. The investigation also revealed that there was another race involved, as the girls were being cared for by a local "nanny" along with four other girls from a neighboring country when they were rescued.
The embassy is coordinating with Cambodian authorities to resolve the case and protect the rights of the Filipinos involved in the incident.
