URGENT MATTER | DOJ eyes resolution on ‘Senior Agila,’ Socorro cult by mid-November

October 10, 2023 , 12:22 PM

By Beatrice Puente

(October 10, 2023) – The Department of Justice (DOJ) plans to issue its resolution on the case of a cult in Surigao del Norte by next month, an official said on Monday, underscoring the need to immediately resolve the controversy.

DOJ undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty said they are closely looking into the case of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI), taking into consideration the recent revelations of witnesses in Senate hearings.

“Target namin (na matapos by) mid-November. Kasi magfa-file pa ng supplemental complaint dahil doon sa huling hearing at bagong witnesses natin. May mga bagong alegasyon laban sa respondents,” said Ty.

Ty, the undersecretary in charge of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, was responding to a query raised by Sen. Bato Dela Rosa during the upper chamber’s deliberation of the P34.5 billion budget of the DOJ for next year.

Jay Rence Quilario, also known as “Senior Agila,” heads SBSI, which is accused of abusing minors and manipulating its members.

Quilario and his advisers in the cult—Mamerto Galanida, Karren Sanico, and Janeth Ajoc—are placed under Senate detention after being cited in contempt for not properly answering the questions of lawmakers.

On Monday, Quilario and his three companions went to the DOJ central office for a “clarificatory hearing.” So far, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has also filed a motion for a precautionary hold departure order against Quilario and other SBSI officials.

“Kailangan muna nila (prosecutors) i-clarify ‘yung ibang issues. They have to get certain facts straight para maayos ‘yung preliminary investigation,” said DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano in a phone interview.

Amid the ongoing proceedings, Ty assured that the authorities are extending due process to Quilario and other SBSI officials.

As early as June, the NBI Caraga already filed criminal complaints against individuals linked to SBSI over the alleged abuse of minors, citing child marriage, child abuse and exploitation, and qualified trafficking as some of their violations.

“Per our information, wala pang preliminary investigation na nangyari because pinapa-imhibit ‘yung prosecutors natin. Tinitingnan natin kung ano ang rason kung bakit sila pinapa-inhibit at bakit nag-i-inhibit ang prosecutors,” said Clavano last month.

DOJ secretary Boying Remulla transferred the preliminary probe from Surigao del Norte to Manila last month.

In a previous statement, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said those who were abused by SBSI were deprived of proper services such as healthcare and government aid, citing the experience of two women.

One of them, a 33-year-old, recounted how the cult leaders told them to surrender over half of the financial aid they received from the government after Typhoon Odette battered their province.

“Inabuso na nga ang kanilang mga bata, winatak-watak ang kanilang mga pamilya, pinagkakitaan pa sila ng mga karapatan at benepisyong dapat sa kanila. This cult has a lot to answer for,” said Hontiveros last September 25. “Titiyakin nating mabigyan ng hustisya ang mga kababayan nating sinaktan at inalipusta nila.”

(PM)

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