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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Socorro 'cult' minor victims have no reason to lie - Dela Rosa

Socorro 'cult' minor victims have no reason to lie - Dela Rosa

Published Sep 28, 2023 10:11 am

Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa believes that the minor victims of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI) or the so-called Socorro "cult" have no reason to lie about the trauma they experienced.

viber_image_2023-09-28_11-33-52-185.jpg
(Senate PRIB photo)

For Dela Rosa, he sees no reason or motivation for the witnesses who are aged 12 to 15 to lie or concoct allegations that can damage their own reputation, especially alias "Jane" who was involved in a forced marriage with an 18-year-old. 

"Hindi magsisinungaling ang mga bata. Saka yung bravery nila na aminin in open hearing na malalaman ng buong mundo na finorce sila ay magpakasal, finorce sila makipag-sex (The kids will not lie. We have to give credit to their bravery to confess these in open hearing that the whole world will know that they were forced to get married and to have sex)," Dela Rosa told reporters after the hearing of the Senate Committee  on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.

So far, he said that he has observed that a lot of rights of the children were violated. Aside from being forced into marrying someone and having sexual intercourse with them; the children were also deprived of education, due to their rigorous schedule everyday. 
 

Controlling from behind

Towards the end of the hearing, Dela Rosa said that he finds it difficult to believe that SBSI President Jey Rence Quilario or "Senior Agila" is the one leading the community based on his initial assessment of him. 

"Di natin alam kung nagddrama-drama lang siya. Pero sa nakita ko (We don't know if he's just acting. But from what I see), somebody's controlling from behind or somebodys," he added.

But still, despite this fact, Dela Rosa said that Quilario is still liable since he'a already 22 years old and as far as facilitating the forced marriages is concerned, the witnesses point to no one else but him. 

The Senate panel cited in contempt Quilario, Janeth Ajoc, Mamerto Galanida, and Karren Sanico. All four denied the existence of forced child marriage in SBSI during the Senate panel's prob into the alleged human rights violations being perpetrated by SBSI.

Meanwhile, after suspending the 8-hour hearing, Dela Rosa said that he is seriously considering to conduct the next one in Socorro and at the same time have an ocular investigation of the place. 


 

Related Tags

Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Senator Ronald Bato dela Rosa Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI) Senior Agila
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