MANILA, Philippines – Sinabi ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) na maglalaan ng pansamantalang kanlungan ang DSWD para sa 13 Filipina na naging surrogate mothers sa Combodia.
Kaugnay nito ay agad na nagbigay ng direktiba si DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian sa Field Office-National Capital Region na magbigay ng kaukulang tulong sa ilalim ng Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP) para sa 13 surrogate mothers at tatlong anak nito na kamakailan ay dumating sa bansa.
“The DSWD as the Co-Chairperson of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) treats the 13 surrogate mothers as victims of trafficking and all forms of assistance should be given to them including the provision of transportation and temporary shelter in one of the Department’s center and residential care facilities (CRCFs),” sabi ni Gatchalian.
Nabatid sa report ni Atty. Elaine Fallarcuna, Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, Attached and Supervised Agencies, sa Kalihim nitong Biyernes, Disyembre 27 na naghahanda na ang CRCF ng pansamantalang matutuluyan ng 13 surrogate mothers at tatlong anak nito.
“While the surrogate mothers are in temporary shelter, the DSWD will help them communicate with their families for their reintegration. The respective families of the surrogate mothers will also be assessed for the provision of the necessary services and intervention,” ayon sa report ni Asst. Secretary Fallarcuna.
Sabi pa ng opisyal, dalawang pampasaherong van mula sa DSWD FO-NCR at Central Office ang nakahanda upang dalhin ang surrogate mothers sa CRCF sa Metro Manila.
Nauna rito, ang 13 surrogate mothers na may kasamang tatlong babies ay dumating sa NAIA Terminal 1 nitong Linggo bandang 4:50 a.m lulan ng Philippine Airlines. Sila ay sinamahan ng isang Cambodian doctor at Filipino nurse.
Ang 13 Pinay mothers ay kabilang sa 24 foreign women na nahuli ng Cambodian police sa Kandal province noong Setyembre at nakasuhan ng attempted cross-border human trafficking.
Nahatulan ng apat na taong pagkakulong ang 13 surrogate mothers sa Cambodia at kamakailan nga ay nabigyan ng Royal pardon base sa kahilingan ng Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh at endorsement ng Royal Government of Cambodia. Santi Celario
