On instructions of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, Attached and Supervised Agencies, Elaine Fallarcuna welcomes the 13 surrogate mothers from Cambodia upon their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Sunday (December 29).

Asst. Secretary Fallarcuna accompanied the mothers and three of their babies to one of the agency’s care facilities in the National Capital Region (NCR) where they will be provided with temporary shelter.

Secretary Gatchalian directed the agency’s Field Office-National Capital Region to render all the needed assistance under the Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP).

The 13 Filipinas who became surrogate mothers in Cambodia were convicted by a local court as surrogacy is illegal in the Southeast Asian country. (MBM)