The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported that immigration officers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 intercepted a female trafficking victim who was allegedly scheduled to undergo an In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) procedure last 14 January.
According to the bureau, the 34-year-old victim, whose identity is withheld under anti-trafficking laws, attempted to depart the country via a Turkish Airlines flight TK265 bound for Cyprus.
Contrary to her initial claim that she was traveling alone for leisure, she was flagged after unintentionally presenting an invitation from an IVF clinic.
The bureau stated that an investigation revealed the victim had agreed to serve as a surrogate mother for a person she met on a dating app, in exchange for P300,000 upon giving birth.
"The scheme continues to thrive, leading to a rise in online offers for surrogacy or IVF-related services, with victims often pushed into passing certain laboratory assessments," stated BI Commissioner Atty. Joel Anthony Viado stated. "We warn women against falling for such schemes, as this is obviously a kind of human trafficking," he added.
For assistance, the victim was immediately referred to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).