DOJ assures full assistance to 13 Pinays repatriated from Cambodia

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

Department of Justice (PNA file photo)

MANILA – The government considers the thirteen Filipino women repatriated from Cambodia as victims of human trafficking and will be provided full assistance, the Department of Justice said Monday.

“Bilang biktima ng human trafficking, lahat ng mga ayuda, lahat ng mga benepisyo na maaaring manggaling sa estado ay ibibigay sa kanila… lahat ng mga psycho-social (counselling), mga medical services ay ibibigay sa kanila lalo na sa kanilang pagsisilang ng mga bata (As victims of human trafficking, all assistance, benefits the state may bestow will be given… all psycho-social counselling and medical services, especially when they give birth),” Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty said during the Bagong Pilipinas news forum.

Upon their arrival to the country on Sunday, the 13 surrogate mothers and three of their babies were taken to one of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s care facilities where they will be provided with temporary shelter.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian has directed the agency’s Field Office-National Capital Region to render all the needed assistance under the Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP).

These include direct service assistance like food, financial aid, educational, livelihood and medical assistance; auxiliary services in ongoing cases; training assistance to facilitate employment; and case management which covers analyzing problems and needs, implementing interventions, and monitoring and evaluating the progress of trafficked persons.

Meanwhile, Ty also assured that the government will continue to be on watch against recruiters like the ones involved in the Cambodian surrogacy ring.

“Tuloy naman ang pagbabantay. Ang nakatoka d’yan na ahensya ay ang Bureau of Immigration (BI). Sila ang naninigurado na ang mga Pilipinong lumalabas sa bansa ay lumalabas sa lehitimong dahilan (The monitoring is continuous. The Bureau of Immigration is in charge and continue to ensure that those who leave the country are for legitimate reasons),” he said.

Ty noted that the BI have discovered several women leaving the country to become surrogate mothers.

“Sila ay naisalba at ‘yung mga kasama nila ay humaharap na sa mga kaso ngayon (They were rescued and their recruiters are now facing charges),” the DOJ official said.

Ty added that government efforts to remind the public and make them more aware of the dangers of human trafficking.

The 13 Filipino women convicted in Cambodia for illegal surrogacy were repatriated following a royal pardon from Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni.

Surrogacy has been illegal in Cambodia since 2016 and violations are considered felonies.