A PARISH under the Diocese of Surigao yesterday denounced the actions and alleged abuses being committed by the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc., also known locally as the Kapihan group.
In a statement, the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish said it is against the actions, beliefs, and rituals of the group that has been branded by Sen. Risa Hontiveros as a “cult,” which makes references to the Santo Niño while believing their leader is their god.
“This Kapihan Group believes that a certain man by the name of Jay Rence Quilario is their god, whom they fondly call Señor Agila. Jay Rence claims to be the reincarnation of God and even uses our beloved Santo Niño in their indoctrination,” said the Parish based in the Bucas Grande Island.
“Their belief in the Santo Niño is doubtful since their God is not Jesus but Jay Rence. They only use the image of the child God to make their indoctrination appealing to their followers. This bespeaks an insult to this image of our strong and solemn faith,” it added.
The Parish stressed the group is in no way affiliated with the Catholic Church or affiliated Church groups.
“In this respect, the Catholic Parish in Socorro, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, strongly insists that this group has no affiliation with the parish or with any Catholic organization,” it said.
Aside from denouncing the group’s actions and beliefs, the Parish affirmed the allegations against the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc., saying its actions are “common knowledge” in the local communities, including their priests.
“In this regard, as friar-priests living in the municipality itself, we can attest that the people of Socorro have common knowledge on these abuses being done in the hilltop settlement,” said the Parish.
“A number of individuals, who fled from the group, already shared their ordeals with different people and groups in the municipality. Should these people be asked, most of them would share a common story,” it added.
Among them, it said, are marrying minors with adults, incidents when married individuals were married to another partner under the authority of Senor Agila, exploitation, forced labor of their followers, and child sexual abuse.
“Our hearts felt such strong feelings of pity and remorse for the victims. As such, whether these abuses remain to be allegations of inhumane acts or should they be proven true, we strongly condemn such actions of injustice towards our brothers and sisters,” said the Parish.
It asked the national and local government to help the beleaguered members of the group.
