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Cambodia pardons jailed surrogate Filipino mothers

Cambodia has pardoned 13 Filipino women who were jailed over a scheme to become surrogate mothers for foreigners.  (AAP: April Fonti)

In short: 

Cambodia has pardoned 13 Philippine women who were jailed over a surrogacy scheme for foreigners. 

The women were sentenced to four years in prison earlier this month on human trafficking charges. 

They were sent home to Manila on Sunday and taken to a government shelter for trafficking victims.

Cambodia has pardoned and sent home 13 Filipino women who were jailed over a scheme to become surrogate mothers for foreigners, the Philippines government said.

They were among 24 foreign women detained by Cambodian police in September and sentenced to four years in prison earlier this month for human trafficking charges. 

The women "and three of their babies" were sent home to Manila on Sunday and taken to a government shelter for trafficking victims, the Philippines' Social Welfare Department said. 

The Social Welfare Department's assistant secretary Irene Dumlao said ten of the repatriated women were still pregnant. 

"All 13 [women] departed Phnom Penh and arrived safely in Manila following the grant of royal pardon by His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni," the Philippines foreign ministry said.

Surrogacy a 'legal grey area' 

The Cambodian court ruling said it had strong evidence which showed the women had "the intention… to have babies to sell to a third person in exchange for money, which is an act of human trafficking".

The court did not give details on what would happen to the babies.

The Philippines foreign department warned "surrogacy is banned in Cambodia and any violation thereof is punishable under Cambodian laws".

Forced to raise a stranger's child

Photo shows A woman in pink and green floral pyjamas pictured from above bottle feeding a baby in her lap.

Cambodia pardons jailed surrogate Filipino mothers

Dozens of Cambodian women who were paid to carry babies for mothers and fathers around the world are now forced to raise the child.

Meanwhile, the social welfare ministry statement said "there is no law prohibiting or allowing surrogacy in the Philippines, providing a legal grey area prone to abuse".

In 2016, Cambodia issued a snap ban on commercial surrogacy after neighbouring Thailand pulled the plug on the trade the previous year. 

The ban put an abrupt end to a thriving industry for hopeful parents, many from Australia and the United States.

Demand for commercial surrogacy has remained high after China eased its one-child policy and agencies in Cambodia continue to offer the service.

AFP

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