Image Courtesy of Senator Risa Hontiveros Official Facebook Account
By Junex Doronio
“Religious fanaticism is the most dangerous form of insanity.” — Robert Graves
CITING “REAL THREAT AND IMMINENT DANGER OF VIOLENCE,” Socorro, Surigao del Norte Mayor Riza Rafonselle Taruc-Timcang has asked for the deployment of more police officers and Army soldiers to her town ahead of the start of the Senate investigation into the alleged cult activities of Socorro Bayanihan Services Incorporated (SBSI).
The mayor made the appeal after hundreds of members of SBSI staged a rowdy demonstration in the Socorro town strongly denying that their group is a cult and the charges of child abuse, exploitation, forced labor, and illegal possession of guns and drugs.
SBSI members also called for the Senate probe to be held in Sitio Kapihan, Barangay Sering in Socorro town, where the organization is based.
But Senator Hontiveros rejected the demand of SBSI members, saying its leader Jey Rence Quilario who reportedly claimed to be the “new Jesus” and also called “Senior Agila” must attend the Senate investigation in aid of legislation.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) also junked the SBSI request.
In her privilege speech last September 18, Hontiveros revealed that numerous cases of rape have been committed against minors, with the leaders of the group facilitating marriages of children as young as 12 years old with adults.
The opposition senator claimed that first-hand witnesses, including “survivors,” told her that “Senior Agila” (Quilario) had convinced thousands of Socorro locals and government employees to flee to the mountains by spreading doomsday or end-of-the-world messages. (ai/mnm)