The foreign ministers of Cambodia and the Philippines have reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening collaboration in combating transnational crimes, human trafficking, and cyber fraud.
This pledge was emphasized during a telephone conversation on January 15 between Cambodia's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Prak Sokhonn, and the Philippines' Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Enrique A. Manalo.
According to a statement from Cambodia’s foreign ministry, Minister Manalo expressed his gratitude for Cambodia's full cooperation and goodwill in resolving recent surrogate pregnancy cases involving Filipino nationals.
Both ministers also highlighted the strong bilateral relations between the two nations and are preparing for Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet’s official visit to the Philippines in February. They further discussed plans for an in-person meeting during the upcoming ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in Malaysia.
In late December, 13 Filipino women were repatriated to the Philippines after serving part of a four-year prison sentence (with two years suspended) in Cambodia for engaging in surrogacy, an act classified as human trafficking under Cambodian law. The women were granted Royal pardons and released early before being sent home.
Pa Chanroeun, president of the Cambodian Institute for Democracy, expressed optimism about the cooperation between the two nations, noting that it could enhance bilateral trade and investment relations. He added that this partnership also represents a strategic step toward strengthening Cambodia’s efforts to address transnational crimes, online fraud, illegal gambling, and human trafficking.
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