SENATORS MOVE TO INVESTIGATE CULT VICTIMIZING CHILDREN IN SURIGAO DEL NORTE

By Dang Samson Garcia

SENATORS Risa Hontiveros and Ronald Dela Rosa filed separate resolutions seeking to investigate alleged cases of rape, sexual abuse, forced labor and child marriage perpetrated by an alleged cult, as well as the alleged shabu laboratory in Socorro, Surigao del Norte.

In Senate Resolution 797, Hontiveros said the cult, identified as the Socorro Bayanihan Services, Inc., now known as Omega de Salonera, has been made to believe that one Jey Rence Quilario is the Messiah.

The organization has 3,650 members, including 1,587 children.

“Nakakakilabot ang nabuong kulto sa Surigao. Pero mas nakakakilabot at nakakagalit ang mga kaso ng panggagahasa, pananakit, at pilit na pagkakasal na ginawa sa mga menor de edad. We must put an end to this. As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women and Children, and as a mother, I ask us not to allow this monstrosity to continue,” Hontiveros said.

“Last July, eight children ran away from the cult after repeated instances of abuse and exploitation. These children are in grave and present danger. Makapangyarihan at may impluwensya ang kulto. Ginagawa nila ngayon ang lahat para makuha mula sa LGU at DSWD ang mga bata. The children’s parents, who are still part of the cult, are asked to file petitions for habeas corpus, in order to recover the minors from the local government,” she added.

“Ang malala, nagtagumpay na sila sa isang bata at plano nilang isa-isahin ang mga nakatakas na bata hangga’t sa bumalik sa kulto. Ang mga bata na po mismo ang nagmamakaawa na huwag na silang ibalik doon. Bakit nga naman nilang gugustuhing bumalik sa isang komunidad, sa isang lider na nanloloko, nanggagahasa, at nananakit sa kanila?” the senator added.

Hontiveros also revealed that members of the cult were made to perform acts of forced labor under pain of physical punishment, and were also forced to surrender 40-60% of their social welfare benefits, such as 4Ps, senior citizen pensions, TUPAD, and AICS, to Quilario.

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa filed Senate Resolution 796 seeking to investigate the alleged shabu laboratory being maintained by the alleged cult.