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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Dela Rosa: Socorro ocular on Oct. 14 aims to help Senate panel produce 'credible report' on alleged abuses

Dela Rosa: Socorro ocular on Oct. 14 aims to help Senate panel produce 'credible report' on alleged abuses

Published Oct 6, 2023 07:15 am

The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs will conduct an ocular inspection of the controversial community in Sitio Kapihan, Socorro, Surigao del Norte reportedly controlled by a religious cult on Saturday, October 14.


 

Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, chairman of the said panel, said it is imperative for Senate probers to “see for ourselves the real situation in the area.”


 

Dela Rosa’s panel conducted a hearing jointly with the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality earlier and investigated the alleged forced marriage, rape, and other criminal activities committed by the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI).


 

The committee cited in contempt SBSI president leader, Jey Rence Quilario, also known as “Senior Agila” and three other persons said to be the leaders of the group. They are now currently detained at the Senate.


 

“(We need) to see for ourselves the real situation in the area. We cannot just produce a very credible committee report without having actual, real time grasp of the area,” Dela Rosa said in a phone interview on Friday, October 6.


 

“So puntahan talaga natin para malaman natin at kung kaya makausap yung mga tao na andon. Titingnan natin kung kaya nating gawin yan na makausap sila (So we will go there to know and have an opportunity to talk to the people there. We will see what we can do to talk with them). We will try,” the senator added.


 

Asked if he believes they would be able to find the high powered firearms the group supposedly used to train children as part of a private army, Dela Rosa said he is certain the group’s founders have already hidden all possible contraband or illegal items that may be used against them.


 

“When the issue erupted, there were really contrabands, they were able to hide it right away. Pero sa akin lang talaga, we just want to get the feel of what really the Kapihan is. Kailangan nating malaman (We need to know),” the lawmaker added.


 

Afterwards, he said both committees will hold another hearing at the Senate.


 

“Yes, pagbalik galing doon sa (after) Socorro, we'll conduct another hearing,” Dela Rosa said.

Related Tags

Senate probe bato dela rosa Socorro cult
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