PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — A senior official from the Interior Ministry announced on Saturday that thirteen pregnant women from the Philippines, who were allegedly involved in illegal surrogacy in Cambodia after being recruited online, may face imprisonment following childbirth. The official, Chou Bun Eng, is spearheading efforts against human trafficking and sexual exploitation in the country.
The police conducted a raid on September 23 in Kandal province, close to the capital city of Phnom Penh, which led to the discovery of 24 foreign women. Among them were 20 from the Philippines and four from Vietnam. The thirteen pregnant women were subsequently charged on October 1 under a clause related to the Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation law, which was amended in 2016 to prohibit commercial surrogacy, highlighting Cambodia’s shift away from being a hub for foreign nationals seeking surrogacy.
Commercial surrogacy has seen a surge in popularity in developing nations where services are generally less expensive than in countries like the United States and Australia, where such services can exceed $150,000. The demand for surrogacy in Cambodia increased significantly after several neighboring countries, including Thailand, India, and Nepal, imposed stricter regulations on the practice.
A notable incident occurred in July 2017 when a court in Cambodia sentenced an Australian national along with two Cambodian associates to 18 months in prison for facilitating commercial surrogacy services. The current case is particularly striking because typically, surrogate mothers are employed in their respective home countries rather than transported abroad.
Cambodia’s reputation in relation to human trafficking is already troubling, particularly concerning online scams that exploit foreign workers who are often deceived under false pretenses and subjected to harsh treatment while being forced into fraudulent activities.
Details regarding the latest surrogacy incident remain unclear, with authorities not specifying whether the women were detained or if the organizers of this scheme have been pinpointed. Chou Bun Eng indicated that the operation responsible for recruiting the surrogates stemmed from Thailand, which also coordinated their food and lodging in Cambodia. Nevertheless, the specific business involved has yet to be identified.
Those seven Philippine women and four Vietnamese women who were apprehended but were not expecting children are set for deportation soon. The thirteen expectant mothers, on the other hand, are currently receiving medical care in a hospital in Phnom Penh. After delivering their babies, they could potentially face prison sentences ranging from two to five years. Chou Bun Eng emphasized that the Cambodian government views these women as perpetrators rather than victims, alleging that they conspired with the organizers to engage in surrogacy and sell the newborns for profit.
The claims made by officials have not been independently verified since it remains unknown if the women have legal representation or if they could be contacted. In response to local media coverage regarding this incident, the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia issued a statement on Wednesday corroborating many of the details regarding what it referred to as the “rescue of 20 Filipino women.” The statement reassured that all individuals involved were interrogated with an Embassy representative present along with an interpreter throughout the investigative process.
