Senate grilled reincarnated Christ
By Nidz Godino
Ernie Peñaredondo
SENATORS are looking into four ranking members of religious group posing as people's organization detained at Senate for not admitting their role in alleged rape and forced marriages of children in secluded but fortified mountainside village in Socorro, Surigao del Norte.
Jey Rence Quilario, dubbed as cult leader "Señor Aguila" and president of Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc., former Socorro mayor Mamerto Galanida, Karren Sanico and Janeth Ajoc were cited in contempt during joint Senate public order and women and children committee inquiry.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, moved for contempt order, said they refused to admit their role in organization's cult-like activities.
During inquiry, Senate panel learned forced marriage of children is reference to pairing of animals in Biblical story of Noah's Ark, with their mountainside community as ark where they could be saved when world ends.
Female minor, 15-year-old alias "Jane," said child members are forced to have sex with Quilario before their arranged marriages to older men.
Children are told to have sex with men so that they could go to heaven, she stressed.
Two 12-year-old male minors aliases Renz and Coco testified they were subjected to forced labor and military training by Quilario's private army called "Soldiers of God."
These soldiers had to make blood compact to become members of religious army, former members told Senate. Minors were excused from hearing after they broke down upon recalling their ordeal.
Quilario denied allegations that he raped minors and led cult-like community in Socorro. "It pains me that I am being judged here… I am still young… I did not finish my education... I can never do those things," Quilario said.
Galanida accused of grooming Quilario who was only 17 at the time to be reincarnation of Jesus Christ was taken to clinic after he felt ill toward end of hearing.
According to municipal legal consultant Richard Dano, community is divided into "clusters" which have set of daily activities.
One cluster "Fetus" is composed of children who are brought to barracks and subjected to military training and hard labor. Community chanted prayers and worshipped Quilario for his miracles as reincarnation of child Jesus, Dano added.
Meanwhile, 847 children dropped out of school in 2019 to join their families who went on mass exodus to mountainside community, Socorro Vice Mayor and former school superintendent Gemma Ocon said.
Several teachers also joined exodus and quit their teaching posts, she added.
Religious organization has 3,560 members, including 1,587 children, in community that is heavily guarded by Quilario's private army.
Twelve police officers who were dismissed or went absent without leave are members of Quilario's army. Photo of the señor with his army bearing arms was shown in hearing.
Quilario denied he has private army, and former members said they were holding wooden rifles instead of high caliber weapons.
Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who presided over hearing, said there are indications of cult-like behavior based on testimonies of minors.
He said Senate would hold next hearing in Socorro to see for himself if there is cult community.
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