By Junex Doronio
NOT EVEN A TOUGH GUY like Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa could not help but be horrified by the sight of several tombs of infants in Sitio Kapihan, Socorro, Surigao del Norte, an enclave inhabited by members of the controversial Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI).
“Bakit mga bata? Kulang kayo ng child care dito. One year, two years old, three years old, mamatay? Hindi ba dapat ang bata hindi ‘yan basta-basta mamamatay?” Dela Rosa blurted out as he confronted one of the SBSI members.
On Saturday, October 14, Dela Rosa, joined by staff members of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Sen. Risa Hontiveros, as well as representatives from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and other agencies, inspected Sitio Kapihan and discovered that some newborn and days-old babies were buried in the cemetery.
It was gathered that one of the ill-fated infants died three days after being born on December 14, 2021, without being brought to a hospital.
“Si Señor Aguila (SBSI leader Jey Rence Quilario) raw, sabi nila na siya ang reincarnation ni Señor Santo Niño kaya ‘yung mga bata na may sakit, bawal talagang ipagamot sa ibaba,” the father of the child admitted.
Hontiveros said the SBSI lacked proper documentation regarding the deaths of its members in Sitio Kapihan, including how they died and where they were buried.
She added that this violates the Code of Sanitation (Presidential Decree 856).
Dela Rosa also met with Sitio Kapihan residents who are members of the group, especially the youth.
“Ready sila to answer the questions. Parang rehearsed. Lumalabas na ‘yung overall answers are going towards defending Señor Aguila na hindi talaga nagso-solemnize ng marriage,” he noted.
(ai/mnm)
