SENATOR Risa Hontiveros has filed a resolution seeking the conduct of probe into the cases of rape, sexual abuse, forced labor, and child marriage perpetrated by an alleged cult in Socorro, Surigao del Norte.
Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women and Children, filed Senate Resolution 797 to probe Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI), now known as Omega de Salonera, which currently has 3,650 members, including 1,587 children, based in an enclosed and heavily guarded area on a mountain known as Sitio Kapihan in the municipality of Socorro.
The organization was led by a certain Jey Rence Quilario, a self-proclaimed “new Jesus.” Quilario was also known as “Senior Agila.”
"Nakakakilabot ang nabuong kulto sa Surigao. Pero mas nakakakilabot at nakakagalit ang mga kaso ng panggagahasa, pananakit, at pilit na pagkakasal na ginawa sa mga menor de edad. (The cult that has developed in Surigao is terrifying. But the cases of rape, torture, and forced marriages committed against minors are even more horrifying and infuriating.) We must put an end to this. As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women and Children, and as a mother, I ask us not to allow this monstrosity to continue," Hontiveros said.
"This sorcery should be stopped. Pati pera ng taumbayan napupunta sa kulto. Isang malaking scammer itong si Senior Agila. Huwag nating hayaang ipagkait niya sa libo-libong mga bata ang kanilang mga pangarap at kinabukasan. We need to save those children now," she added.
(Even the people's money goes to the cult. This Senior Agila is a big scammer. Let's not let him deny thousands of children their dreams and future.)
In her privilege speech on Monday, September 18, Hontiveros said Quilario was groomed to lead the organization since he was 17 years old.
Hontiveros said Quilario and his handlers took advantage of the earthquake that hit the province in 2019 to encourage its members to come with him in Sitio Kapihan, which he claimed as heaven.
He told his followers that those who will not come with him will go to hell.
Hontiveros said the local government recorded mass resignations of Department of Education teachers and government employees.
“More than 100 elementary and secondary teachers from Socorro East and West Districts who were SBSI members went on Awol (Absence without Leave). Thirteen regular employees and 41 Job Order workers from the municipal local government unit of Socorro have resigned. Enrolments at the Socorro East and West Districts had an alarming decrease of 847 learners, who are members of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc., both in the elementary and secondary level,” she said.
“Ayon sa isang nakapanayam ng aking staff na dating elementary school teacher, sabi daw ni Senior Agila, wala daw government employee ang pupunta sa langit. Kung may mga utang daw kami, huwag daw kami mag-alala, dahil buburahin daw ni Senior Agila ang aming mga utang. Hawak ko po ang salaysay nitong dating DepEd teacher na ito,” she added.
(According to an interviewee of my staff who was a former elementary school teacher, Senior Agila said that no government employee will go to heaven. If we have debts, we should not worry, because Senior Agila will erase our debts. I am holding the story of this former DepEd teacher.)
Hontiveros said in July, eight children ran away from the cult after repeated instances of abuse and exploitation. They were brought to the custody of the local government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
This prompted Mayor Riza Timcang to form a task force for the immediate action on the matter.
Hontiveros said the cult used its influence and filed habeas corpus through the parents of the children who were still part of the cult in order to get back those who escaped.
“Paano po sila nagkakapera? Kinokolekta ng organisasyon ang halos o mahigit na 50 percent ng mga natatanggap na 4Ps at senior citizen pension ng mga myembro. Noong panahon pandemya at noong hinampas ang Surigao ng bagyong Odette, naglabas ang gobyerno ng social assistance para sa mga residente. Kinolekta ng organisasyon ang 40 percent-60 percent ng natanggap ng bawat isa ng kanilang kasapi. Ang mga natatanggap na Tupad o AICS, ang pera ng taumbayan, napupunta sa isang kulto,” she said.
(How do they make money? The organization collects almost or more than 50 percent of the 4Ps and senior citizen pension received by the members. During the pandemic and when Surigao was hit by Typhoon Odette, the government issued social assistance for residents. The organization collected 40 percent-60 percent of what each of their members received. The received Tupad or AICS assistance, the people's money, goes to a cult.)
She said they also received information that among the organization’s source of funds is its involvement in the illegal drug trade.
“In fact po, kung tama ang sources, ang motibasyon kung bakit tinayo ang kulto na ito ay para maging human shield dahil nailagay sa narco-list ang pasimuno ng organization na ito na si Karren Sanico at ang kanyang dating business partner na yumaong Municipal Circuit Court Judge, na pinaslang di umano dahil sa kanyang pagkasangkot sa droga noong 2019. Si Mamerto Galanida ay naihamig di umano nila Sanico at naging bahagi din ng masterminds ng grupo,” she added.
(In fact, if the sources are correct, the motivation behind the creation of this cult is to be a human shield because the initiator of this organization, Karren Sanico, and his former business partner, the late Municipal Circuit Court judge, who was allegedly murdered because of his involvement in drugs in 2019, were placed on the narco-list. Mamerto Galanida allegedly fell in love with Sanico and was also part of the group's masterminds.)
Meanwhile, in a press conference in Camp Crame on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, Philippine National Police Chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said they are closely coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation and the local government unit for the conduct of case build-up on the matter. (SunStar Philippines)