MANILA, Dec 29, (V7N) – Thirteen Filipino women convicted and jailed in Cambodia for involvement in a banned surrogacy scheme have been pardoned and returned home, the Philippine foreign ministry confirmed on Sunday.

The women were among 24 foreign nationals arrested in September and sentenced to four years in prison on December 2 for attempted cross-border human trafficking.

Following a royal pardon granted by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, the women were released and arrived safely in Manila early Sunday.

"All 13 departed Phnom Penh and arrived safely in Manila following the grant of royal pardon by His Majesty," the ministry said in a statement.

The Cambodian court found strong evidence that the women intended to carry babies for financial compensation, which the court classified as an act of human trafficking.

No details were provided on the fate of the unborn babies involved in the case.

Commercial surrogacy has been illegal in Cambodia since 2016, following a sudden ban enacted after neighboring Thailand outlawed the practice in 2015. The ban disrupted a lucrative industry catering to international clients, particularly from Australia, the United States, and China.

Despite the prohibition, surrogacy agencies reportedly continue to operate covertly, fueled by high demand, especially from Chinese couples. Sources have indicated that couples pay surrogacy agents between $40,000 and $100,000 to arrange surrogate mothers in Cambodia.

The incident highlights the ongoing demand for commercial surrogacy despite its illegality in several Southeast Asian countries. The case underscores the need for stronger international cooperation to regulate and address human trafficking linked to such schemes.

END/WD/RH/