Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 intercepted a female trafficking victim who was allegedly set to undergo an IVF procedure on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old victim, whose identity is withheld under anti-trafficking laws, attempted to board a Turkish Airlines flight to Cyprus.
She initially claimed to be a solo traveler on a leisure trip but was flagged after she contradicted her story by inadvertently presenting an IVF clinic invitation.
According to the investigation, the victim agreed to be a surrogate for someone she met on a dating app who promised a P300,000 payout after childbirth.
“The scheme continues to thrive, leading to a rise in online offers for surrogacy or IVF-related services, with victims often coerced into passing certain laboratory assessments,” BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said.
“We warn females not to be tempted to agree to such schemes as this is a clear form of trafficking,” he added.
The victim has since been referred to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for assistance.