Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 12) — Authorities found 19 minors involved in “common-law relationships” with adult members of the controversial Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI) in Surigao del Norte, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Thursday.
“These are teenagers, from 18 (years old) down, na common law partners sila ng mga [of the] adults sa Socorro,” Remulla said in a press briefing. \”Sila’y nagbubuhay-asawa dito sa mga bata na most of them below 18.\”
[Translation: These are teenagers, from 18 years old down who are common law partners of adult members of SBSI. They are living like couples.
Three boys are common-law partners of female adults while 16 girls are with male adults of the group, Remulla said.
Common-law marriage is a relationship under an informal or void marriage.
Officials have accused SBSI of “cult-like” activities, sexual violence, child abuse, and forced marriage.
Remulla bared the findings of the probe following a meeting between the Department of Justice and the environment, social welfare and education departments to discuss the situation in SBSI, particularly its young members.
He said the end goal is to protect the welfare of children in SBSI.
“’Yung mga bata, malnourished. Hindi maganda ang sitwasyon nila. But because they know no other life, parang masaya sila,” Remulla said.
[Translation: The children are malnourished. Their situation is not good. But because they know no other life, they seem happy.]
“We’re adapting an integrated approach para ma-solve itong problema [to solve the problems],” he added.
Remulla said authorities are identifying other leaders of SBSI since the blame is not solely on Jey Rence “Senior Agila” Quilario, the president of the group.
