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Thirteen pregnant Filipinas were among 20 women rescued by Cambodian authorities in a Kandal Province apartment in September 2024, uncovering a suspected trafficking operation.
This illegal practice in Cambodia is considered human trafficking. Seven surrogates returned to the Philippines, while the rest remain in limbo. They were surrogates "rented" for over $10,000 or P500,000.
In an interview with Jessica Soho, the husband of a Filipina rescued from a Cambodia surrogacy scheme shared their experience before his wife's return to the Philippines.
"Lisa's" story
In December 2024, "Peter," a family driver, told his and his wife "Lisa's" story on "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho."
"Lisa" was one of the rescued surrogate mothers in Cambodia.
According to "Peter," "Lisa" left the Philippines in June to go to Singapore. After two weeks, they were brought to Thailand where they would work as cleaners at a hotel.
"Peter" shared that they would video call every day, and in August, "Lisa" was able to send money.
"Tapos nu'ng September 22, birthday niya 'yun, nakausap ko pa siya nu'ng araw na 'yun. Tapos kinabukasan, hindi ko na siya matawagan," he added.
["On September 22, her birthday, I was still able to talk to her. But after that, I couldn't contact her anymore."]
"Peter" figured his wife was missing, so he filed a report to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). That was when he learned that there were no records stating that "Lisa" had left the Philippines.
"Tapos 'yung Philippine Embassy naman ng Thailand, pinuntahan nila 'yung hotel pero wala raw pong record ng asawa ko na nagtrabaho doon," "Peter" said.
["Then, the Philippine Embassy in Thailand went to the hotel, but they said there was no record of my wife working there."]
"Peter" said he lost hope of finding her.
And then, while fixing his Google account, "Peter" saw that Lisa was signed in, and that the location was set in Cambodia.
"Peter" reported this to the Philippine Embassy in Thailand and asked for help to contact the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia. "Peter" was then called by the embassy, who confirmed that "Lisa" was in the country.
He was then told that "Lisa" was rescued. They confirmed that they had "Lisa" in their custody and later learned they were rescued due to the surrogacy.
Legalities of surrogacy
Surrogacy is the process of a woman carrying a child in her womb, but one she is not biologically related to. It is a way for couples, who are having difficulties or are unable to conceive, to have a child.
Dr. Christopher Soriano said it is a pregnancy done through in-vitro fertilization or IVF.
"'Yung magulang nu'ng embryo na 'yun or 'yung fetus, galing sa ibang magulang. Tapos ginamit lang 'yung kanyang matris para siya ang magkarga ng pagbubuntis hanggang manganak," Soriano said.
["The parents of the embryo or fetus are different individuals. They only used her womb to carry the pregnancy until she gave birth."]
Atty. April Carelo explained that since there is no specific law in the Philippines about surrogacy, it cannot be clearly classified as either legal or illegal.
Carelo explained that surrogacy can be considered human trafficking when it involves sale, trade, profit, or becomes a business.
Commercial surrogacy thrived in Cambodia after bans in Thailand and India but was outlawed in 2016 due to cases of abuse and trafficking, which led to the imprisonment of Filipino surrogates.
On November 3, seven non-pregnant women were brought back to the Philippines. After speaking with one of them, "Peter" learned that "Lisa" was unable to go home because she was pregnant.
"Peter" also said that the embassy was non-responsive when he asked if "Lisa" would be able to come home.
"Lisa's" handwritten letter told "Peter" to care for their child as she had lost hope of returning. She also asked about their son and sent a message saying she missed them both and wanted "Peter" to take care of him.
"Peter" added that "Lisa" did not mention anything about her pregnancy.
Illegal recruiting
In the beginning, "Peter" was against "Lisa" leaving the Philippines as he would want to spend more time together as a complete family.
But "Lisa" would say that she wants to work abroad to fulfill her own dreams and to build a home for their family.
According to an investigation by the Embassy of the Philippines in Cambodia, the women were recruited to be surrogate mothers online. The recruiter arranged the victims' travel documents for work in Southeast Asia before bringing them to Cambodia for surrogacy, and the victims didn't know their clients' identities.
According to "Peter," the women only learned that they would become surrogates once they were in Cambodia.
"Parang naloko raw po talaga," he added. "Doon na lang nila nalaman, hindi na raw po sila makatanggi."
["They were truly deceived. They only discovered the surrogacy scheme once they were already there, and they said they couldn't refuse anymore."]
"Peter" was unsure how they left the country, but a woman he spoke to said they had no OWWA records and left through backdoor methods.
The Philippine Embassy in Cambodia revealed that the 13 Filipinas were offered P10,000 to P500,000 for surrogacy, though agencies earned much more, with Chinese couples paying up to $100,000 for a surrogate.
"Peter" said that he still hopes for "Lisa" to come home.
"Mas gusto ko na lang makauwi na lang siya. Kahit buntis siya, tatanggapin ko na lang po [kahit sa ibang tao 'yung bata]," he said.
["I just want her to come home. Even if she's pregnant, I will accept her even if the baby is someone else's."]
Their son, meanwhile, is always looking for his mom.
"Basta makauwi lang siya, kasi palagi siyang hinahanap ng anak namin," Peter said. "Lagi na lang din ako nagsisinungaling sa bata. Sinasabi ko, 'Sira yung cellphone ng mama mo kaya hindi ka matawagan.' Halos gabi-gabi nag-aabang doon sa may pintuan ng bahay."
["I just want her home. I would lie to the child and say, 'Your mom's phone is broken so she can't call.' He waits by the door almost every night."]
"Peter" called on the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia to give their family clarity as to what really happened to "Lisa" in Cambodia.
Bringing Lisa home
In December 2024, "Lisa" and 12 other surrogate mothers received a royal pardon from the Cambodia government and safely returned to the Philippines on December 29. Three of them went home with their babies.
"Lisa," now six months pregnant, and the other pregnant women were handed over to the DSWD and given government aid.
She eventually returned to her family in Butuan City, Mindanao.
"Lisa" admitted she was scammed by her recruiter and found it difficult to be jailed abroad, while she is pregnant.
Meanwhile, "Peter" is preparing to welcome their new baby, whom he plans to accept as his own.
—JCB, GMA Integrated News
