(Photo of the Bureau of Immigration)
According to the BI, they intercepted a 34-year-old Filipina at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City, after it was discovered that she planned to go overseas to become a surrogate mother.
The woman confessed she met the AFAM on a dating app. She was reportedly offered to travel to Cyprus, where in addition to meeting, she was also promised a source of income.
BI discovered that the woman was carrying an invitation from an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) clinic in Cyprus, where her acquaintance promised to pay her P300,000 upon giving birth.
The woman was supposed to board a Turkish Airlines flight to Cyprus and undergo the IVF procedure on January 14, 2025.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said this method continues to spread, victimizing many Filipinas.
"The scheme continues to thrive, leading to a rise in online offers for surrogacy or IVF-related services, with victims often coerced into passing certain laboratory assessments. We warn females not to be tempted to agree to such schemes as this is a clear form of trafficking," Viado stated.
Currently, the woman is under the care of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.
