This general view shows the city skyline and a high-rise building (L) under construction in Phnom Penh on November 20, 2024. Agence France-Presse
MANILA, Philippines — Thirteen Filipinas convicted of violating Cambodia’s surrogacy ban were reportedly recruited online, the Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh said Wednesday.
Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia Flerida Ann Camille Mayo said the women were recruited by a Philippine-based agency offering surrogacy services. However, the agency’s name was not disclosed.
“They said the offer was made online. They did not recognize the agency, as everything was done through private messaging or texting,” Mayo said in a Teleradyo interview.
READ: 13 Filipinas get 2-yr sentence in Cambodia for violating surrogacy ban
Mayo further said that the Filipinas claimed they were unaware of the identities of the actual clients, as all their transactions were handled through a third-party agency representative known only as “Ima.”
“They never saw who exactly recruited them. There was no name given—only a certain Ima, spelled I-M-A, as the recruiter,” she added.
Mayo also mentioned that the Filipinas did not know the identities of the surrogate children’s parents.
“According to them, they did not know the owners of the sperm and egg used… The embryos were implanted in them, but they were unaware of their origins,” she said.
READ: PH to Cambodia: Filipinas in surrogacy scheme are victims, not criminals
The Filipinas were promised $10,000 for their services by the agency, according to Mayo.
Due to these revelations, Mayo urged the public to exercise greater caution when dealing with recruitment agencies and verifying job offers.
“Let us be vigilant when it comes to job offers. Many of these seem too good to be true. If that’s the case, consider it a red flag,” she said.
“Let us also ensure that the opportunities we pursue are legal. Take some time to research and familiarize yourself with the relevant laws.”