The cult is known as Socorro Bayanihan Services, Inc. (SBSI) in Sitio Kapihan, Barangay Sering, Socorro, Bucas Grande islands, Surigao del Norte. They are living in what used to be the site for Kapihan View Park, which was the community-based program of SBSI with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Now, it is no longer forested but occupied by the members.
Socorro is beside Siargao, the internationally known surfing site. Socorro also has its own tourist spot, Socorro Cove with its caves, stingless jellyfish, and diving spot.
Their leader is Jeyrence B. Quilario, whom they call their Senior Agila. Jeyrence is supported by Mamerto D. Galanida, former Schools Division Superintendent, three-term mayor of Socorro and three-term Board Member of Surigao del Norte, and Karren Sanico, a businessman.
About four years ago they moved to Sitio Kapihan with all their members after an earthquake. They believed that the world was ending and that only they would be saved. They brought their families with them. Those who didn’t agree with them were left behind. They number about 3,000 people.
They are known nationally as Omega de Salonera, the team that won in this year’s Sinulog. They were disciplined, creative, and organized.
But cult survivors tell a different story.
Eight minors have escaped, living witnesses of what happened inside the cult.
Cult members initially could go in and out of the compound.
But later on, their movements were restricted. They followed the words of their Senior Agila who stopped them from going out.
Children who were studying were stopped from attending online classes.
The children were made to haul sand, stones, and rocks called βbantiles.β This was used for building a swimming pool and a basketball court. Although the cult said it was voluntary labor on their part but they were actually monitored and disciplined for failure to do work, so, it was actually forced labor/work. Those who were late for work were paddled, and worse sent to the foxhole for a week of isolation.
Children were required to do βmasi-masiβ every day. These are physical exercises where they jog with a heavy sack filled with rocks, undergo obstacle challenges, firearm, and bladed weapons handling, learn martial arts, swim, and crawl in the mud full of waste and urine. All are required to render physical exercises because all are trained to be “Soldiers of God”, including the children.
Children above 12 years old are married to other cult members so that they could have children.
One cult survivor was even offered to their Senior Agila. One cult official required her to have sex with him. She initially refused but the cult official conned her by saying that she would be beside the Senior Agila at the time of judgment (“end of the world”) and she and her family will be saved.
After that, she decided to escape together with two other minors.
There is a pending criminal complaint against Jeyrence, Mamerto, and others before the provincial prosecutorβs office for child abuse, child marriage, qualified trafficking, and illegal detention.
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