Provincial

SEÑOR AGILA, 12 OTHER ‘CULT’ LEADERS INDICTED

admin November 7, 2023

CRIMINAL charges were filed before the Regional Trial Court of Dapa, Surigao del Norte against Socorro Bayanihan Services Incorporated leader Jey Rence Quilario alias “Señor Agila” and 12 others for allegedly operating as a cult in Socorro town and victimizing minors.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told a news conference that the Department of Justice was anticipating arrest warrants to be issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Surigao del Norte anytime soon.

“We expect the court to issue warrants of arrest soon,” Remulla said.

According to Remulla, 21 cases for qualified trafficking in person, facilitation of child marriages and solemnization of child marriages and child abuse were filed against the respondents on Monday.

Aside from Quilario, also indicted are Mamerto Galanida, Karren Sanico, Janeth Ajoc, Wenefredo Buntad, Giovanni Leogin Lasala, Ibrahim Adlao, Jovelito Atchecoso, Sergio Cubillan, Daryl Buntad, Jonry Elandag, Yure Gary Portillo and Florencio Quiban.

Quilario, Galanida, Ajoc and Sanico have been detained at the Senate after they were cited in contempt for evading questions during the Senate hearing on the issue last September.

Remulla said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has continued to look into the alleged abuses at Sitio Kapihan in Socorro, Surigao del Norte.

He said the DOJ is planning to move the cases against Quilario and his group from Surigao del Norte to Metro Manila or other areas for security reasons.

“We believe 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,” Remulla said.

Earlier, the DOJ said the preliminary investigation on the complaints against Quilario and other SBSI officials had encountered delays due to the multiple inhibitions of local prosecutors.

In October, the NBI requested the issuance of precautionary hold departure orders (PHDO) against Quilario and several SBSI officials.

The charges stemmed from the privilege speech made by Senator Risa Hontiveros detailing the alleged sexual abuses committed by its officers against some of its members, particularly minors.