By Junex Doronio
DESPITE STRONG DENIAL by members of Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. in Surigao del Norte that their group allegedly engaged in rape, child marriages, and child labor, Senator Risa Hontiveros has dared their leader Jey Rence Quilario who reportedly claimed to be the “new Jesus” and also called “Senior Agila” to attend the Senate investigation in aid of legislation.
In a recent privilege speech, Hontiveros urged her fellow senators to look into the operations of Socorro Bayanihan Services after receiving complaints that the group was involved in child marriage, which had been outlawed with the passage of Republic Act No. 11596 last year.
“Si Jey Rence ay ipinatawag sa Senado kaya siya ang dapat pumunta ng Senado, gaya ng iba din na pinatawag namin sa Senado para harapin ang lehitimong mga issue,” Hontiveros quipped.
Socorro Bayanihan Services, Inc. is also known as “Omega de Saloner”.
Hontiveros claimed that the group’s leaders Quilario and Karren Sanico had been collecting money from thousands of their members, many of them 4Ps beneficiaries.
“This cult has a lot to answer for. Titiyakin nating mabigyan ng hustisya ang mga kababayan nating sinaktan at inalipusta nila,” she vowed.
In an interview with GMA News, Quilario has expressed willingness to face any investigation over the activities of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI).
“Ang hiling ko lang is ‘yung fair naman, fair,” Quilario said. (ai/mnm)