The Philippine government has said it will continue to work with Cambodian authorities to address human trafficking across the region following the conviction of 13 Filipinos for their involvement in a surrogacy scheme.
While the Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh said it will continue to provide legal and consular assistance to convicted Filipinos during their stay in Cambodia, it will also help Khmer authorities in the fight against transnational crimes.
"The Philippine government continues to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and international partners, including Cambodia, in the fight against human trafficking and other transnational crimes," the embassy said in a statement.
It then warned Filipinos about Cambodia's strict prohibition of commercial surrogacy, and travelling to the country for surrogacy arrangements might result in imprisonment.
On Monday, Dec. 2, 13 Filipino women were convicted by Kandal Provincial Court of felony for their involvement in a surrogacy scheme.
They were initially meted with four years of imprisonment but was reduced to two years due to mitigating circumstances in a law that could have sentenced them for up to 20 years behind bars.
The Filipinos, who faced charges for violation of the Law on the Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation, have been detained since Sept. 23 at a designated medical facility under police protection while awaiting judicial process for their case.