Facade of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday raised concerns over the growing cases of women being trafficked abroad for illegal surrogacy following the latest case wherein another victim was intercepted while attempting to leave the country.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado on Wednesday reported that a 37-year-old woman was stopped at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on October 15, as she tried to board a flight to Batumi, Georgia – intersection of Eastern Europe and Western Asia.
The woman—who the BI did not identify—initially presented herself as a sales associate, but discrepancies in her statements led immigration officers to investigate further.
She later admitted to being recruited to work as a surrogate mother in exchange for P500,000.
READ: Bureau of Immigration blocks entry of 25 foreigners at Naia
The woman’s recruiter, a male contact on WhatsApp, had promised her P28,000 monthly during pregnancy, along with covered medical expenses, documentation, and travel costs.
BI sounds off alarm
BI’s immigration protection and border enforcement section Chief Mary Jane Hizon highlighted the alarming rise in cases, noting that this marks the seventh instance of trafficked surrogate mothers intercepted at Philippine airports this year.
She stressed that many women are being deceived into surrogacy arrangements under false promises, only to face exploitation afterward.
Earlier this month, 20 Filipino women were also rescued from a similar surrogacy trafficking scheme in Cambodia.
Viado condemned these operations, saying that surrogacy involving coercion or deception falls under human trafficking.
READ: 20 Filipina surrogate moms brought to Cambodia rescued
The victim has been referred to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for assistance and legal action against her recruiters. Stefani Tacugue, INQUIRER.net trainee