Some of the surrogate mothers repatriated from Cambodia have been reunited with their respective families, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported.
The DSWD said it facilitated the reintegration of several surrogate mothers, who were repatriated to the country on December 29 after being granted a Royal Pardon in Cambodia.
Three of the surrogate mothers have their babies with them while the 10 others are expecting their respective children anytime in 2025.
“The reunion with their respective families before the New Year can be considered the best Christmas gift the DSWD can give them,” DSWS Secretary Rex Gatchalian said on Tuesday.
In her report to Gatchalian, Assistant Secretary Elaine Fallarcuna of the DSWD cluster for International Affairs and Supervised and Attached Agencies (ASA) said seven surrogate mothers and one baby have already been reintegrated to their respective families.
“After the coordination meeting yesterday (December 30) with the six DSWD Field Offices, it was learned that contacts made with the families of seven surrogate mothers, one of whom has a baby, have proved successful paving the way for their reintegration to their respective families before new year,” Fallarcuna said.
“The first six mothers and the baby were reintegrated to their respective families yesterday (Monday). The seventh surrogate mother travelled by plane Tuesday morning and she is now safe with her family,” she added.
Two other surrogate mothers staying with the DSWD’s center and residential care facility (CRCF) are scheduled for reintegration with their respective families on Saturday (January 4).
“The remaining four mothers and two babies will continue in their temporary stay with our CRCF. These are the mothers who expressed intention to stay temporarily until they are ready to go home to their families,” Fallarcuna said.
The 13 Filipina mothers were among the 24 foreign women caught by Cambodian police in Kandal province in September 2024 and charged with attempted cross-border human trafficking.
They were sentenced to four years in jail in Cambodia and were later given Royal Pardon based on the appeal by the Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh and with the endorsement of the Royal Government of Cambodia.
“The reunion with their respective families before the New Year can be considered the best Christmas gift the DSWD can give them,” Gatchalian, quoted by ABS-CBN News, said.
Reports further said Senator Risa Hontiveros has sought a Senate investigation into the alleged “surrogacy scheme” victimizing Filipino women.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “DSWD reunites surrogate mothers with their families in time for New Year.”
