At A Glance
- Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman wants to see the immediate prosecution of Socorro "cult" leaders and members for their involvement in child marriage practices.
Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman (Screenshot from Facebook)
Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman wants to see the immediate prosecution of Socorro “cult” leaders and members for their involvement in child marriage practices.
On Tuesday, Nov. 7, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested Socorro Bayanihan Services Incorporated (SBSI) leader Jey Rence “Señor Aguila” Quilario and four other leaders after prosecutors filed 21 cases for qualified trafficking in persons, facilitation and solemnization of child marriages, and child abuse.
The NBI is also looking to arrest of eight more SBSI members charged with the same cases.
As principal author of Republic Act (RA) No. 11596 or the “Prohibition of Child Marriage Law”, Lagman said the arrested suspects can be prosecuted under this particular law.
Section 4 specifically declares as unlawful the facilitation of child marriage, solemnization of child marriage, and cohabitation of an adult with a child outside wedlock.
The independent minority solon says that the full and speedy implementation of RA No. 11596 is vital in promoting gender equality and equity. He said it is a crucial law for the elimination of violence against girls.
“Child marriage is a patent violation of girls and an affront to their basic human rights,” the Albay solon stressed.
“It is a practice that not only infringes on children’s fundamental rights but also poses significant perils to their overall well-being and development,” Lagman said.
“It cheats them of their childhood; robs them of their entitlement to education; and deprives them of their right to choose their own future. It denies them the opportunity to grow, explore, and fulfill their potential,” he added. --Dexter Barro II