Charges filed vs Socorro cult leaders

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JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday said criminal charges have been filed in Surigao del Norte against Jey Rence Quilario, alias “Senior Agila,” the leader of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI), and other officials of the group allegedly operating like a cult in Socorro town.

“We have 21 cases filed for qualified trafficking in person, facilitation of child marriages and solemnization of child marriages and child abuse. This is just the beginning dahil marami pang angles ang tinitingnan dito (since there are still many angles being looked into),” Remulla said.

“All from Sitio Kapihan, Socorro, Surigao del Norte. Kasama si Senior Agila at marami pang iba,” he added as to the individuals charged.

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Remulla said the prosecution will move for the transfer of the criminal raps to Metro Manila courts or other venues.

“Preliminary filed in Surigao because we believed it should be transferred to Manila or other venues where the interest of justice will not be affected by people who might interfere with the process,” he said, without naming names.

The DOJ earlier said the filing of cases against Quilario and other SBSI officials in the province has encountered obstacles due to the multiple inhibitions of local prosecutors.

This is the reason why the DOJ has formed another panel of prosecutors for the conduct of a preliminary investigation.

Remulla said he is confident the court will issue warrants of arrest against those charged due to the strength of the prosecution’s evidence. Many of them, he added, are still at large.

“Four of them are still detained in the Senate,” he said, referring to Quilario, Mamerto Galanida, Janeth Ajoc, and Karren Sanico, who were cited in contempt for evading questions during the Senate hearing on the issue last September.

Remulla said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is pursuing its investigation on the case.

Last month, the NBI asked the DOJ to issue precautionary hold departure orders (PHDO) against Quilario and several officials of SBSI.

The allegations against SBSI were initially brought to light by Sen. Riza Hontiveros, who in a privileged speech narrated the alleged abuses committed against the group’s members, particularly minors, including sexual abuse and forced marriages, since 2019.

 

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