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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senate panel lifts contempt order vs Socorro 'cult' leaders, turns them over to NBI

Senate panel lifts contempt order vs Socorro 'cult' leaders, turns them over to NBI

Published Nov 7, 2023 08:26 am

A Senate panel on Tuesday, November 7 lifted the contempt order against the four leaders of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI) or the so-called Socorro "cult" namely Jey Rence Quilario also known as "Senyor Agila", Janeth Ajoc, Mamerto Galanida, and Karren Sanico.

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The Senate security group turns over alleged Socorro cult leader Jey Rence Quilario alias Senyor Agila, Socorro Bayanihan Services Incorporated (SBSI) vice president Mamerto Galanida, group leaders Karen Sanico Jr and Janeth Ajoc, and other SBSI members to the police and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation Tuesday, November 7, 2023 after a warrant of arrest was issued against them by a regional trial court in Dapa, Surigao del Norte for violation of Republic Act No. 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. (Senate PRIB photo)

Wrapping up the hearing of the joint Senate Committees of Committees on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, and Women and Children, Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa received a copy of an arrest warrant against the four and nine other members of SBSI, prompting Sen. Risa Hontiveros to lift the contempt order to put them under the custody of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Members of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) took in Quilario, Galanida, Sanico, Ajoc, Wenefredo Buntad, Giovanni Salang, Ibrahim Adlao, Jovelito Atchecoso, Sergio Cubillan, Daryl Buntad, Yure Portillo, Florencio Quiban, and Jonry Elandag by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 10 Acting Presiding Judge Ambrosio Narada Moleta of Dapa, Surigao del Norte for eight counts qualified trafficking in violation of Republic Act 9208 with no bail recommended.

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The Senate security group turns over alleged Socorro cult leader Jey Rence Quilario alias Senyor Agila, Socorro Bayanihan Services Incorporated (SBSI) vice president Mamerto Galanida, group leaders Karen Sanico Jr and Janeth Ajoc, and other SBSI members to the police and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation Tuesday, November 7, 2023 after a warrant of arrest was issued against them by a regional trial court in Dapa, Surigao del Norte for violation of Republic Act No. 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. (Senate PRIB photo)

The four were originally cited in contempt for repeatedly denying the existence of child marriage in their community even after various witnesses, including a minor who was actually involved in it, testified during the first hearing.

"Bilang na ang mga araw ng mga nagdidiyos-diyosan (Those who are posing as gods, your days are numbered)," Hontiveros said in a statement.

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Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros stressed during Tuesday’s hearing on November 7, 2023, of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs that the culprits must face the law. (Senate PRIB photo)

She said that Quilario, Galanida, and their ilk, if convicted, deserve to go to jail stating that the criminal activities they carried out as cult leaders are beyond despicable.

According to the senator, they preyed on the weak, abusing the most vulnerable members of their community, including women, children, and the elderly.

"Walang pinipili, lahat inaabuso’t inaalipusta (None are saved, everyone gets disrespected and abused)," she added.

As author of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, Hontiveros said she is pleased to witness how our laws have been put to their necessary use.

She also thanked the Department of Justice for their expeditious investigation. It was only last September when she delivered her privileged speech exposing the cult’s vile and harmful practices, and less than two months later, the culprits are already facing charges in court, and warrants of arrest have been issued against 13 individuals.

"Isa ito sa mga patunay na ang ating mga pag-iimbestiga sa Senado ay may pinupuntahan. Hindi kami naglalaro at nagbibiruan lang dito, tulad ng mga sinasabi ng iba (This is proof that our Senate investigation leads somewhere. We're not playing games or cracking jokes here, as others believe)," she stated.

Hontiveros also expressed her deep gratitude to the victim-survivors of the cult, especially the children, and all those who courageously shared their stories in the investigation, no matter how difficult.

"Ang tapang nila ang nagbibigay lakas hindi lang sa kaso, kundi pati sa amin sa Senado (Their bravery did not only strengthened their cases, but also us in the Senate)," she added.

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Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa adjourns the public inquiry of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs into the alleged systematic rape, trafficking, forced labor, child marriage, and drug trafficking perpetrated by the Socorro "cult" Tuesday, November 7, 2023. (Senate PRIB photo)

In a press conference after adjourning the hearing, Dela Rosa said that the committee reinforced the findings during the first hearing that there are indeed numerous violations.

"They can deny all they want but we have the goods in the form of testimonies of those victims. (It's) very hard to destroy the statements of those minors," he added.

In terms of legislative measures that will come out of the hearing, he said that they will find a way to control the issuance of Protected Area Community-Based Resource Management Agreements (PACBRMA). He also mentioned looking into the Philippine Family Code due to the incident wherein the children who escaped from SBSI were eventually returned to their parents since they are the ones who should have first custody of them.

The senator is also looking forward to the revocation of SBSI's PACBRMA which will force them to leave Sitio Kapihan and be relocated. It's only after this time can the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) comes in for its psychological intervention for the children and for the local government of Socorro to put in place its reintegration plans.

Related Tags

Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Senator Ronald Bato dela Rosa Senate Committee on Women Children Family Relations and Gender Equality Senator Risa Hontiveros Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI)
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