MANILA – All 13 Filipina surrogate mothers and their babies repatriated from Cambodia have been reunited with their respective families more than a week after the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided them with temporary shelter.
“We are happy to report that the DSWD already processed the reintegration of the remaining five mothers and two babies to their families in Mindanao,” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao reported on Wednesday.
Dumlao said two of the surrogate mothers were accompanied by the DSWD Field Office (FO) 11 – Davao Region as they returned to their respective hometowns on January 5.
The three mothers and two babies who stayed at the Haven for Women in Muntinlupa also flew to their provinces in Mindanao on January 6.
“Our social workers from the different FOs, including those in our centers and residential care facilities (CRCFs), who facilitated the process of reintegration, ensured the safety and smooth transition of the individuals involved,” the DSWD spokesperson said.
The first batch of surrogate mothers and one baby were reintegrated to their families last December 30 and 31 in time for the celebration of the New Year.
The 13 surrogate mothers were among the 24 foreign women arrested by Cambodian authorities in Kandal province in September 2024 on charges of attempted cross-border human trafficking.
On December 29, the 13 surrogate mothers arrived in the Philippines after receiving a Royal Pardon following an appeal by the Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh, supported by the Royal Government of Cambodia.
“The DSWD reiterates its commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals from human trafficking and other exploitative practices, while also ensuring the welfare and rights of Filipino nationals both locally and abroad,” Dumlao said. (PNA)