Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

A Filipina suspected of being recruited into an illegal surrogacy scheme abroad was stopped from leaving the country, authorities said. The Bureau of Immigration said the 31-year-old woman was intercepted at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on March 30. She initially told officers she was travelling to Hong Kong to work as a domestic helper. However, further checks revealed she was bound for Beijing and then Tbilisi, Georgia. Authorities said she was allegedly recruited to become a gestational surrogate and was promised P490,000 (Dh30,551) after childbirth. Documents found in her possession included a letter from a Georgian-German surrogacy facility, indicating she would undergo in vitro fertilisation (IVF). The woman later admitted that she had been recruited through Facebook by a female agent. She has since been referred to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for further assistance and investigation. Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado warned the public against similar schemes. “Our officers manning the counters are strongly committed to intercepting suspicious departures linked to trafficking schemes,” he said. “We remain in close coordination with IACAT and other partner agencies to protect Filipinos and ensure that traffickers are held accountable.” Authorities noted that illegal surrogacy schemes are increasingly being treated as human trafficking cases due to the risks involved.

Is surrogacy a legal job?

Surrogacy laws vary widely around the world, and in many places, it is not considered a legal job. In the Philippines, there is no clear legal framework regulating commercial surrogacy, leaving women vulnerable to exploitation. In the UAE, all forms of surrogacy are illegal, including arranging or advertising such services. Many countries in Europe, including France, Germany, and Italy, also ban surrogacy entirely. There is commercial surrogacy, where the surrogate is paid beyond medical expenses. This is illegal in many countries. There is also altruistic surrogacy, where the surrogate is not paid, only reimbursed for expenses. This is allowed in some countries like Canada and UK. Surrogacy is generally not treated as a formal profession because itt lacks labour protections, and legal risks may arise if agreements break down. There are no guaranteed health benefits for the surrogate and ethical concerns also exist about exploitation. Critics argue that commercial surrogacy can take advantage of vulnerable women, while supporters say it can help families have children when properly regulated. For authorities, the priority remains clear: protecting individuals from exploitation and preventing trafficking schemes disguised as employment opportunities. ICA/CAM/Expat Media
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