Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 28) — Child victims and former members of the Socorro Bayanihan Services, Inc (SBSI) shed tears as they recount horrors experienced when they were forced by their “God” to participate in the alleged cult’s activities and obey its laws.
During the joint Senate committee inquiry on SBSI’s alleged rape, sexual violence, child abuse, and forced marriage cases, Sen. Risa Hontiveros called victims and members who escaped from the cult.
With her voice breaking, 15-year-old “Jane” narrated how she was forced to enter into marriage at 14 with an 18-year-old husband that she had never met. She said she could not say no as it was part of a “law” to be obeyed to “enter heaven.”
“Unang steps ay ipapatawag ‘yung mga secretaries ‘tas ipapatawag kung sino ‘yung mga single na lalaki at single na babae,” her counselor translated her narration using her native language.
[Translation: First steps will be to summon the secretaries and summon who are the single men and single women.]She added that single girls listed started at age 12 while men started at age 18.
Hontiveros, chair of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, earlier exposed the “cult” where Jey Rence Quilario, or “Senior Agila,” was declared as a “savior” who led the group’s alleged “cult-like” activities.
“Ang kulto ang paraan nila para magawa ang panga-abuso sa mga bata at ang paglabag ng batas ng Pilipinas na hindi ma-matiyagan o mahuhuli,” the senator said.
[Translation: The cult is their way of committing child abuse and violations of Philippine law without being caught.]
Hontiveros said the “government” of the SBSI also produced their own birth, death, and marriage certificates for its members.
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Hontiveros begins questioning members of the alleged cult.
“Jane,” 15 years old, says she entered marriage at the age of 14 with an 18-year-old man she did not know | LIVE https://t.co/f5m8xMkRoT pic.twitter.com/ll9qDMTha7
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) September 28, 2023
