Filipino Women Freed: 13 Repatriated from Cambodia After Royal Pardon for Surrogacy Convictions
13 Filipino Women Convicted in cambodian Surrogacy Case Return Home After Royal Pardon
Manila, philippines – Thirteen Filipino women convicted in Cambodia for illegal surrogacy have returned to the Philippines after receiving a royal pardon from King Norodom Sihamoni. The women were granted clemency on December 26th, following a request from the Philippine Embassy and endorsement from the Cambodian government.
“Upon the request of the Philippine Embassy and with the endorsement of the Royal Government of Cambodia, the Royal Decree pardoning all 13 Filipinos paved the way for their release and immediate repatriation,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement.
the repatriation marks the culmination of a complex case that began with the rescue of 20 Filipino women brought to Cambodia by a recruitment agency to act as surrogate mothers. Seven women who were not yet pregnant were repatriated earlier. The remaining 13,all in various stages of pregnancy,were held at a Cambodian hospital while facing legal proceedings.
The women were convicted under Cambodia’s 2008 Law on the suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation for their involvement in a surrogacy scheme. Cambodia outlawed surrogacy in 2016, classifying violations as felonies.
The DFA expressed its gratitude to the Cambodian government for the humane treatment extended to the women throughout the investigation and judicial processes.
“Their safe return highlights the strong diplomatic ties between the Philippines and Cambodia, as well as both countries’ shared commitment to combat human trafficking and transnational crime,” the DFA said.
The agency also issued a reminder to Filipinos that surrogacy remains illegal in cambodia, and those who violate the law face severe penalties.