Cambodia has convicted 13 women from the Philippines on charges of human trafficking and acting as pregnant surrogates for a ring which targets foreigners for selling babies in exchange for cash.&nbsp;

The Kandal Provincial Court sentenced the 13 women to four years in prison along with two years of suspension.

The court stated that it possessed strong evidence which proved the intention of the women to have babies "to sell to a third person in exchange for money, which is an act of human trafficking".

It is not expected that the women will serve jail before giving birth and the court did not specify what will be the future of the babies after they were born.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/women-are-getting-pregnant-for-15-months-in-nigeria-heres-all-about-this-disturbing-miracle-pregnancy-779909">Women are getting pregnant for 15 months in Nigeria. Here's all about this disturbing 'miracle pregnancy'</a>

In Cambodia, surrogacy is illegal, however, agencies have still been offering the service. This case has been unusual in its nature because normally surrogates are employed in their own countries and do not get transported elsewhere.

<h2>How did the police catch the pregnant surrogates?</h2>

The police found the women when they carried out a raid in a villa near the capital Phnom Penh on September 23.

After the women were arrested, Undersecretary in the Philippines Department of Justice Nicholas Felix Ty said that the women themselves had been "victims of human trafficking".

However, the idea was rejected by Cambodian Interior Minister Chou Bun Eng who said that the women were responsible.

Bun Eng said that the police also caught four Vietnamese women and seven Filipino women, however, they were not pregnant and hence, were deported.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/texas-abortion-ban-kills-teenager-as-she-experienced-pregnancy-complications-reports-773387">Texas abortion ban kills teenager as she experienced pregnancy complications: Reports</a>

The court said that a Cambodian woman was imprisoned for two months and one day because they were found to have acted as an accomplice to the mothers and cooked meals for them.

The commercial surrogacy industry saw a boom in Cambodia in 2016 after their neighbouring country Thailand made the practice illegal.

The Cambodian government later banned surrogacy, however, it still continued to thrive.

According to AFP news agency, couples from China are willing to pay agencies somewhere between $40,000 (£31,600) and $100,000 (£79,000) &nbsp;for arranging a surrogate Cambodian mother.

(With inputs from agencies)

Cambodia has convicted 13 women from the Philippines on charges of human trafficking and acting as pregnant surrogates for a ring which targets foreigners for selling babies in exchange for cash.

Cambodia has convicted 13 women from the Philippines on charges of human trafficking and acting as pregnant surrogates for a ring which targets foreigners for selling babies in exchange for cash. The Kandal Provincial Court sentenced the 13 women to four years in prison along with two years of suspension. The court stated that it possessed strong evidence which proved the intention of the women to have babies "to sell to a third person in exchange for money, which is an act of human trafficking". It is not expected that the women will serve jail before giving birth and the court did not specify what will be the future of the babies after they were born. Also Read: Women are getting pregnant for 15 months in Nigeria. Here's all about this disturbing 'miracle pregnancy' In Cambodia, surrogacy is illegal, however, agencies have still been offering the service. This case has been unusual in its nature because normally surrogates are employed in their own countries and do not get transported elsewhere. How did the police catch the pregnant surrogates? The police found the women when they carried out a raid in a villa near the capital Phnom Penh on September 23. After the women were arrested, Undersecretary in the Philippines Department of Justice Nicholas Felix Ty said that the women themselves had been "victims of human trafficking". However, the idea was rejected by Cambodian Interior Minister Chou Bun Eng who said that the women were responsible. Bun Eng said that the police also caught four Vietnamese women and seven Filipino women, however, they were not pregnant and hence, were deported. Also Read: Texas abortion ban kills teenager as she experienced pregnancy complications: Reports The court said that a Cambodian woman was imprisoned for two months and one day because they were found to have acted as an accomplice to the mothers and cooked meals for them. The commercial surrogacy industry saw a boom in Cambodia in 2016 after their neighbouring country Thailand made the practice illegal. The Cambodian government later banned surrogacy, however, it still continued to thrive. According to AFP news agency, couples from China are willing to pay agencies somewhere between $40,000 (£31,600) and $100,000 (£79,000) for arranging a surrogate Cambodian mother. (With inputs from agencies)

Cambodia imprisons 13 Filipinos for acting as pregnant surrogates to sell babies

A lottery in the Philippines has left people surprised, 433 people hit the jackpot, it's the highest number of people to have won the grand Lotto stock price.

Philippines: 433 Filipinos hit grand jackpot, sparks surprise and suspicion

Filipinos are angry with China. The label on a Chinese beauty product says 'Manila, Province of China'. Isko Moreno feels insulted. Palki Sharma Upadhyay explains why Filipinos think this was a deliberate act of China.

Gravitas: Anti-China clamour in the Philippines

As tension is rising between the United States and Iran after the killing of Iranian's top military commander, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-criticises-russia-china-at-un-over-failure-to-condemn-baghdad-embassy-attack-272600">Qasem Soleimani</a>, the Philippines government is preparing to evacuate thousands of Filipinos working in the Middle East region.&nbsp;

About 2.3 million people from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-from-philippines-typhoon-hits-50-271165">Philippines</a>&nbsp;are working in the&nbsp;Middle&nbsp;East&nbsp;as domestic helpers, construction&nbsp;workers, engineers, and nurses.

President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/take-it-or-leave-it-duterte-on-water-distribution-contract-272682">Rodrigo Duterte</a> has ordered the armed forces to prepare air and naval assets for the evacuation of Filipinos in Iraq, Iran, and nearby Arab countries, his spokesman Salvador Panelo said on Tuesday.

Saying he was deeply worried about the prospect of a "protracted-war", Duterte told reporters he sent a special envoy to Tehran and Baghdad to get assurances that Filipinos would be provided safe passage in case of evacuation.

"We have so many Filipinos working mainly in the&nbsp;Middle&nbsp;East. I am nervous. Iran seems to be hell-bent on retaliation, which I think will come," Duterte said in a speech on Monday.

There are close to 7,000 Filipinos working and living in Iraq and more than 1,000 in Iran, according to government data.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who heads a newly created committee to prepare the evacuation, said the government is readying aircraft to ferry Filipinos in Iraq and Iran who wish to come home or be&nbsp;evacuated to safer areas.

"We can send transportation to fetch them," Lorenza told reporters, adding that hiring a cruise ship was among the things the government was considering to safely&nbsp;evacuate&nbsp;those who would wish to be repatriated.

Iran is considering 13 scenarios to avenge Friday's killing of Qassem Soleimani by a US&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-will-never-have-a-nuclear-weapon-says-trump-as-tehran-mourns-suleimani-272585">drone attack</a> in Iraq, a senior Tehran official said on Tuesday as the general's body was brought to his hometown for burial.

Filipinos in the&nbsp;Middle&nbsp;East&nbsp;sent home $5.4 billion in remittances from January to October last year, accounting for a fifth of total remittances for that period, making the region a major source of foreign exchange inflows which help drive growth in the consumption-led Philippine economy.

In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's Foreign Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-offer-to-host-apec-not-a-good-idea-malaysia-260620">Saifuddin Abdullah</a> advised Malaysians to defer nonessential travel to the region, "in particular areas where the security situation is critical", and for citizens in the region to register with their nearest foreign mission.

"The ministry advises all Malaysians residing, or currently traveling to the region to be more vigilant and take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety and security,” Saifuddin told at a press conference.

As tension is rising between the United States and Iran after the killing of Iranian's top military commander, Qasem Soleimani, the Philippines government is preparing to evacuate thousands of Filipinos working in the Middle East region.

As tension is rising between the United States and Iran after the killing of Iranian's top military commander, Qasem Soleimani, the Philippines government is preparing to evacuate thousands of Filipinos working in the Middle East region. About 2.3 million people from the Philippines are working in the Middle East as domestic helpers, construction workers, engineers, and nurses. President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the armed forces to prepare air and naval assets for the evacuation of Filipinos in Iraq, Iran, and nearby Arab countries, his spokesman Salvador Panelo said on Tuesday. Saying he was deeply worried about the prospect of a "protracted-war", Duterte told reporters he sent a special envoy to Tehran and Baghdad to get assurances that Filipinos would be provided safe passage in case of evacuation. "We have so many Filipinos working mainly in the Middle East. I am nervous. Iran seems to be hell-bent on retaliation, which I think will come," Duterte said in a speech on Monday. There are close to 7,000 Filipinos working and living in Iraq and more than 1,000 in Iran, according to government data. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who heads a newly created committee to prepare the evacuation, said the government is readying aircraft to ferry Filipinos in Iraq and Iran who wish to come home or be evacuated to safer areas. "We can send transportation to fetch them," Lorenza told reporters, adding that hiring a cruise ship was among the things the government was considering to safely evacuate those who would wish to be repatriated. Iran is considering 13 scenarios to avenge Friday's killing of Qassem Soleimani by a US drone attack in Iraq, a senior Tehran official said on Tuesday as the general's body was brought to his hometown for burial. Filipinos in the Middle East sent home $5.4 billion in remittances from January to October last year, accounting for a fifth of total remittances for that period, making the region a major source of foreign exchange inflows which help drive growth in the consumption-led Philippine economy. In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah advised Malaysians to defer nonessential travel to the region, "in particular areas where the security situation is critical", and for citizens in the region to register with their nearest foreign mission. "The ministry advises all Malaysians residing, or currently traveling to the region to be more vigilant and take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety and security,” Saifuddin told at a press conference.

Philippines prepares for 'evacuation' of citizens in Middle East

A judge in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/child-killed-as-earthquake-strikes-southern-philippines-268381">Philippines</a> prepared to deliver a verdict on Thursday on the&nbsp;massacre&nbsp;a decade ago of 58 people, among them 32 journalists, in one of the country's most high-profile cases and its worst single instance of election violence.

Three generations of a&nbsp;political&nbsp;clan accused of masterminding the&nbsp;2009&nbsp;killings are among 101 defendants awaiting judgement, in a case seen as a crucial test of impunity in country where provincial power is often decided by corruption, intimidation and violence.

Seven members of the influential Ampatuan family are accused of conspiring to ambush the convoy of a rival clan as it travelled to register its candidate for a gubernatorial election in the southern province of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-explosions-rock-southern-philippines-ahead-of-election-218374">Maguindanao</a>, an attack that spiralled into a bloodbath.

Among the casualties were the wife and relatives of the rival candidate, lawyers and 32 media workers, who were executed beside a rural road in a volley of gunfire, before being buried with their vehicles in a huge pit dug by an excavator.

It was one of the world's single, biggest attacks on journalists. The defendants deny charges of multiple counts of murder and face up to 30 years in jail for each one.

There were 357 witnesses and 197 suspects, 80 of those still at large, including 12 Ampatuans. The family patriarch, Andal Ampatuan, died in prison of a heart attack in 2015.

Five other Ampatuan family members and 54 police are also on trial and lawyers for the families said a guilty verdict would be crucial for&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;democracy.

"We are rooting for a conviction no more, no less," Nena Santos, a private prosecutor in the case, told reporters.

"This is very important because if no conviction here it would mean the impunity continues, press freedom is dead and the democratic process is at stake."

The judge and lawyers were in discussions about how much of the verdict to read out from its more than 700 pages.

The attack, known as the "Maguindanao&nbsp;Massacre", was chilling even by&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;standards, where&nbsp;political&nbsp;assassinations are commonplace in elections for mayors, governors and even congress. Several witnesses in the case have been killed.

Muslim-dominated parts of the southern&nbsp;Philippines are notoriously violent, prone to lawlessness, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippine-troops-pound-islamists-as-death-toll-passes-300-16944">separatist unrest</a> and the&nbsp;rule&nbsp;of warlords aided by an abundance of arms.

Human Rights Watch said that regardless of the verdict, suspects on the run must be caught.

"The families of Maguindanao victims and witnesses will be at risk so long as suspects remain free," said Phil Robertson, the group's deputy Asia director.

A judge in the Philippines prepared to deliver a verdict on Thursday on the massacre a decade ago of 58 people, among them 32 journalists, in one of the country's most high-profile cases and its worst single instance of election violence.

A judge in the Philippines prepared to deliver a verdict on Thursday on the massacre a decade ago of 58 people, among them 32 journalists, in one of the country's most high-profile cases and its worst single instance of election violence. Three generations of a political clan accused of masterminding the 2009 killings are among 101 defendants awaiting judgement, in a case seen as a crucial test of impunity in country where provincial power is often decided by corruption, intimidation and violence. Seven members of the influential Ampatuan family are accused of conspiring to ambush the convoy of a rival clan as it travelled to register its candidate for a gubernatorial election in the southern province of Maguindanao, an attack that spiralled into a bloodbath. Among the casualties were the wife and relatives of the rival candidate, lawyers and 32 media workers, who were executed beside a rural road in a volley of gunfire, before being buried with their vehicles in a huge pit dug by an excavator. It was one of the world's single, biggest attacks on journalists. The defendants deny charges of multiple counts of murder and face up to 30 years in jail for each one. There were 357 witnesses and 197 suspects, 80 of those still at large, including 12 Ampatuans. The family patriarch, Andal Ampatuan, died in prison of a heart attack in 2015. Five other Ampatuan family members and 54 police are also on trial and lawyers for the families said a guilty verdict would be crucial for Philippine democracy. "We are rooting for a conviction no more, no less," Nena Santos, a private prosecutor in the case, told reporters. "This is very important because if no conviction here it would mean the impunity continues, press freedom is dead and the democratic process is at stake." The judge and lawyers were in discussions about how much of the verdict to read out from its more than 700 pages. The attack, known as the "Maguindanao Massacre", was chilling even by Philippine standards, where political assassinations are commonplace in elections for mayors, governors and even congress. Several witnesses in the case have been killed. Muslim-dominated parts of the southern Philippines are notoriously violent, prone to lawlessness, separatist unrest and the rule of warlords aided by an abundance of arms. Human Rights Watch said that regardless of the verdict, suspects on the run must be caught. "The families of Maguindanao victims and witnesses will be at risk so long as suspects remain free," said Phil Robertson, the group's deputy Asia director.

Philippine court to rule on 2009 political massacre

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippines-rejects-call-for-united-nations-rights-council-probe-225446">Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's</a> narcotics crackdown has become a "systematic" campaign of killing, Amnesty International alleged on Monday, urging the United Nations to launch a probe into thousands of deaths.

The drug war is Duterte's signature initiative and is heavily supported by many Filipinos, but the nightly slaying of suspects by police and masked gunmen has provoked international condemnation.

In a speech just hours after Amnesty issued its report attacking the crackdown, Duterte said "extrajudicial killing is okay, but not corruption", &nbsp;though he did not elaborate further.

In its report, Amnesty said there is a well-worn pattern of deadly police operations, planted evidence and abductions that start with so-called "watch lists".

Those names are supplied by local officials who are "under immense pressure" from authorities to provide a steady stream of suspects, the London-based monitor said.

"Worse still, individuals on watch lists appear to be placed on them indefinitely, with no means of getting delisted, even after they have gone through drug treatment or stopped using drugs," said the report.

Amnesty said it was impossible to determine how many people have been killed in the campaign, accusing Manila of "deliberate obfuscation and misinformation" that has left victims' kin feeling helpless.

The government's official toll is just over 5,300, but watchdogs say the true number is quadruple that.

"What we believe is most important, in assessing the current situation, is the systematic nature of the violations," Amnesty's East Asia director Nicholas Bequelin told AFP.

'Failure of the international community'&nbsp;

Amnesty said the press has lost interest in the killings while the government fails to investigate or provide adequate treatment programmes for drug users.

"It has had the effect of creating a climate of total impunity in the country, in which police and others are free to kill without consequence," it said.

"There is sufficient evidence to conclude that crimes committed may constitute crimes against humanity," the group added.

Amnesty said it investigated the deaths of 27 people over the past year in Bulacan, a province near Manila that has become "the country's bloodiest killing field".

Police broke down doors before shooting drug suspects inside and abducted others to be killed elsewhere, it alleged.

Police also tampered with crime scenes and fabricated their reports, planted evidence and stole from victims, it added.

Amnesty called on the UN Human Rights Council to open an inquiry to "put an end to these crimes, and to provide justice and reparations for countless families and victims".

"We ask that the council vote on the resolution and let it pass this week so that an independent investigation can commence led by the UN," Amnesty section director in the Philippines Butch Olano told reporters.&nbsp;

He was referring to a draft resolution, proposed by Iceland and backed mainly by Western nations, which calls for a probe into the drug war and that is expected to go up for a vote before the council sessions end on Friday.

Duterte's spokesman Salvador Panelo criticised as "incorrigible" Amnesty's call for a probe, adding police only killed suspects in self-defence.&nbsp;

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's narcotics crackdown has become a "systematic" campaign of killing, Amnesty International alleged on Monday, urging the United Nations to launch a probe into thousands of deaths.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's narcotics crackdown has become a "systematic" campaign of killing, Amnesty International alleged on Monday, urging the United Nations to launch a probe into thousands of deaths. The drug war is Duterte's signature initiative and is heavily supported by many Filipinos, but the nightly slaying of suspects by police and masked gunmen has provoked international condemnation. In a speech just hours after Amnesty issued its report attacking the crackdown, Duterte said "extrajudicial killing is okay, but not corruption", though he did not elaborate further. In its report, Amnesty said there is a well-worn pattern of deadly police operations, planted evidence and abductions that start with so-called "watch lists". Those names are supplied by local officials who are "under immense pressure" from authorities to provide a steady stream of suspects, the London-based monitor said. "Worse still, individuals on watch lists appear to be placed on them indefinitely, with no means of getting delisted, even after they have gone through drug treatment or stopped using drugs," said the report. Amnesty said it was impossible to determine how many people have been killed in the campaign, accusing Manila of "deliberate obfuscation and misinformation" that has left victims' kin feeling helpless. The government's official toll is just over 5,300, but watchdogs say the true number is quadruple that. "What we believe is most important, in assessing the current situation, is the systematic nature of the violations," Amnesty's East Asia director Nicholas Bequelin told AFP. 'Failure of the international community' Amnesty said the press has lost interest in the killings while the government fails to investigate or provide adequate treatment programmes for drug users. "It has had the effect of creating a climate of total impunity in the country, in which police and others are free to kill without consequence," it said. "There is sufficient evidence to conclude that crimes committed may constitute crimes against humanity," the group added. Amnesty said it investigated the deaths of 27 people over the past year in Bulacan, a province near Manila that has become "the country's bloodiest killing field". Police broke down doors before shooting drug suspects inside and abducted others to be killed elsewhere, it alleged. Police also tampered with crime scenes and fabricated their reports, planted evidence and stole from victims, it added. Amnesty called on the UN Human Rights Council to open an inquiry to "put an end to these crimes, and to provide justice and reparations for countless families and victims". "We ask that the council vote on the resolution and let it pass this week so that an independent investigation can commence led by the UN," Amnesty section director in the Philippines Butch Olano told reporters. He was referring to a draft resolution, proposed by Iceland and backed mainly by Western nations, which calls for a probe into the drug war and that is expected to go up for a vote before the council sessions end on Friday. Duterte's spokesman Salvador Panelo criticised as "incorrigible" Amnesty's call for a probe, adding police only killed suspects in self-defence.

Amnesty urges United Nation probe of 'systematic' Philippine drug war killings

Malaysian police have rescued 29 Filipinas who had been trafficked to work in bars, the Philippines embassy in Kuala Lumpur said today. 
 
The women were rescued from two bars in the town of Bintulu in the Malaysian state of Sarawak on June 9 after the embassy brought reports of trafficked women to Malaysian police, a statement by the embassy said. 
 
Also arrested during the raid were three Filipinos who served as agents and caretakers of the women, it said. 
 
It gave no further details on the case of the 29 women. 
 
But it said some individuals and agencies were allegedly offering work in Malaysia to people who enter as tourists, promising to convert them to employment visas in exchange for payment. 
 
&quot;The embassy reminds Filipinos to be vigilant and not to deal with unlicensed individuals or purported placement agencies, especially online, as they could end up being trafficked,&quot; it said.&nbsp; 
 
Malaysia&#39;s relatively developed economy is a magnet for migrants -- many of them illegal -- from around Southeast Asia, including large numbers of Filipinos. 
 
(AFP)

They were rescued from two bars in Bintulu in the state of Sarawak after the Philippines embassy brought reports of trafficking

Malaysian police have rescued 29 Filipinas who had been trafficked to work in bars, the Philippines embassy in Kuala Lumpur said today. The women were rescued from two bars in the town of Bintulu in the Malaysian state of Sarawak on June 9 after the embassy brought reports of trafficked women to Malaysian police, a statement by the embassy said. Also arrested during the raid were three Filipinos who served as agents and caretakers of the women, it said. It gave no further details on the case of the 29 women. But it said some individuals and agencies were allegedly offering work in Malaysia to people who enter as tourists, promising to convert them to employment visas in exchange for payment. "The embassy reminds Filipinos to be vigilant and not to deal with unlicensed individuals or purported placement agencies, especially online, as they could end up being trafficked," it said. Malaysia's relatively developed economy is a magnet for migrants -- many of them illegal -- from around Southeast Asia, including large numbers of Filipinos. (AFP)

Malaysian cops rescue 29 Filipinas from bars

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