Members who escaped alleged Socorro cult narrate harrowing experiences

Following an earthquake that struck the town of Socorro, Surigao del Norte in 2019, a 17-year-old boy named Jey Rence Quilario, or "Senior Agila," came in and allegedly claimed that he was their savior and promised a new paradise.

In an episode of "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," a former member of Socorro Bayanihan Services, Inc. (SBSI) said that Senior Agila allegedly persuaded the residents to join SBSI, saying that there will be an aftershock and a tsunami in their town, and if they refuse to come with him to Sitio Kapihan, they will go to hell.

Two of the swayed residents, "Beth" and "Gemma," looked back on their experience with SBSI, narrating the rules they had to follow.

"Beth" and "Gemma" were among the more than 5,000 people who resigned from their jobs after Senior Agila promised their spot in heaven.

The recruited members stayed at the top of a mountain where the 353-hectare Sitio Kapihan was located.

"Lahat kami nag-mass resignation. Umakyat kami ng bundok," "Gemma" said. "Ang saya nilang nakakita ng parang paraiso."

["All of us resigned. We climbed the mountain, and were happy to see something like paradise."]

They likened Sitio Kapihan to a well-organized community. The houses were made from wood; they have their own market, a radio station, a recording studio, and a cultural center.

"Kapag may sakit 'yung miyembro ng pamilya mo, tinutulungan ka nila. Tutulungan ka pong gumawa ng bahay," "Gemma" said.

["They will help you if there's someone sick. They will also help you build a house."]

SBSI's rules

A schedule is strictly implemented in Sitio Kapihan.

Every 3 a.m., members need to wake up for a meeting.

"'Yung mga rules inuulit-ulit po ng madaling araw. Para hindi talaga kayo lalabag," "Gemma" said.

["Rules were repeatedly announced during dawn so that no one will violate them".]

After that, they would do their volunteer work, such as planting. They are also trained in military exercises.

They said that they were also forbidden by Senior Agila from getting in touch with their lives from the "baba," even if they have their own families from the outside.

"Hindi po pwede na lumabas doon sa Kapihan nang walang passes na binigay ni Senior. May punishment po kapag napag-alaman na tumakas ka. Minsan paddle or restricted ka sa paksul. At masi-masi ka pa dun, tusok ulo," she continued.

["We are not allowed to go out of the Kapihan unless we have passes from Senior. You'll be punished if caught."]

Because the works at Sitio Kapihan are voluntary, members, according to them, do not receive salaries and only consume the foods they plant.
Material things, including money, are allegedly prohibited in the area.

"Sinabi sa amin ni Senor Agila na walang mapupunta sa langit kapag may pera kang hinahawakan," "Gemma" said.

["Senior Agila said that you won't go to heaven if you're holding onto money."]

This pushed them to sell their properties outside Sitio Kapihan.

"Sabi sa amin, hindi na 'yun magagamit kasi nga lulubog na 'yung entire Socorro. 'Yung 40% ng ipinagbentahan namin ng bahay, ibinigay namin sa samahan," "Gemma" said.

["We were told that the entire Socorro will soon be gone. That's why we sold our houses and 40% of the profit was given to the community."]

Even 40 percent of the benefits they receive from the government, like 4Ps and senior citizens' pensions, had to be donated to support SBSI, they said.

"Sabi niya po, OK lang na manghingi kasi kapag hindi ka manghingi at kapag mahihiya ka, demonyo ka. Naging beggar kami. Parang nakakababa po ng sarili mo. Kahit singko, kahit piso wala po talaga kami," "Gemma" said.

["He said, it's OK to ask other people for money. We became beggars. It felt like we were putting ourselves down. We don't have a peso to our name."]

What "Beth" held on to was: "Magdusa man ako ngayon, at least, someday pinangako ni Senior na kami daw ay makakapunta sa langit."

["Senior promised to us that we will be able to go to heaven, so it's OK for us to suffer for now."]

Eventually, members, including minors, were allegedly forced to work. This includes "Gemma's" kids.

"Pinapatrabaho rin sa barracks nila, pinag-iigib, pinapakuha ng buhangin, ng bato. Sabi niya sa akin, 'Ma, ganito na ba talaga tayo?' Napakasakit na araw-araw 'yung ganung 'yung makita sa anak mo. Gusto niyang mag-aral," "Gemma" said.

["Even kids are forced to work in the barracked. My son told me, 'Mom, do we really have to do this?' It's so painful to see your son like that every day. He just wanted to study."]

"Beth" and "Gemma" then revealed that the worst part was that they were forced to marry their fellow members.

"Kailangan daw kaming magpakasal kasi hindi daw kami makakatawid sa langit," "Beth" said.

["We're asked to marry so that we'll be able to enter heaven."]

Among their fellow members who were forced to marry was alias Alfred, who was only 18 years old then.

"Nagtatawag ng mga dalaga at mga binata, pinagpapares-pares niya lang po. 'Yung pinares ko is lesbian. 24 years old siya nun. Sobrang hirap kasi parehas kaming walang gusto," he said.

["I was paired with a 24-year old lesbian. It's hard because both of us didn't want to do it."]

"Pinapatawag kami ni Senior Agila. Sinabihan ako na, 'I-rape mo na 'yan kasi asawa mo na 'yan e wala na siyang magagawa kahit anong gawin niya.' Di ko po talaga magawa kasi 'di ko naman talaga intensyon na halayin siya," "Alfred" continued.

["Senior Agila called on us one night. He told me to rape my wife because she can't do anything about it. I couldn't do it."]

He said that minors, even without their parents' consent, were forced to get married.

"Kilala ko talaga kung sino 'yung pinakaunang 12 years old na kinasal doon," he said.

["I personally know the first one who was married at the age of 12."]

And when a family member of theirs doesn't return immediately after going out, the spouse left inside Sitio Kapihan will allegedly be married to someone else.

"Gemma" said that this has happened to one of her friends.

"One month pa po siyang bumaba dito. Pagbalik niya sa Kapihan, kasal na po 'yung husband niya. Forced marriage po. Ikaw na lalaki, kapag ikaw 'yung natira dun, makakapili ka ng babae na gusto mong maasawa," she said.

["My friend had been away for a month back then. But when she returned to Kapihan, her husband was already married. Whenever a man is left behind, he can choose another woman he wants to marry."]

"Beth" and "Gemma's" escape

In 2021, "Beth" and "Gemma" found their way out and never looked back.

"Tinalikuran ko 'yung pamilya ko. Labis-labis ang pagsisisi ko nun bakit pa ba ako nagtagal dun," "Beth" said.

["I abandoned my family. I regret that I stayed there for so long."]

Their experience eventually reached the authorities after alias Marie posted about how they forced her husband to marry someone else.

The local government formed a special task force to encourage other witnesses to come forward and investigate what is really going on inside SBSI.

This issue then reached the Senate when Senator Risa Hontiveros delivered her privilege speech on September 18.

"Mayor Riza Timcang directly reached out that they sheltered the eight children who ran away in July. The next step will be heard by the Senate Committee on Public Safety and secondary by the Senate Committee on Women and Children JC on September 28th. We invite all stakeholders, the children themselves and their parents, including Senior Agila," the senator said.

To get Senior Agila's side, the KMJS team traveled to Sitio Kapihan.

However, what greeted them were not validations of the stories of abuse but instead a cultural show.

Women from Sitio Kapihan noticeably have short hair. "This is our identity. Hindi kami Kapihan 'pag hindi ganito ang buhok," one of the members shared.

["This is our identity. We're not from Kapihan if we do not have this kind of hairstyle."]

They gave the team a look at the training grounds they said they use to get fit and not for military purposes.

Senior Agila, who was also present at Sitio Kapihan, denied the allegations.

"Sabi nila dito namin tine-train nang mabibigat ang mga bata pero 'di naman totoo 'yun. Tine-train namin sila para sa maagang edad ay alam na nilang maging independent."

["They say that we let the children undergo hard training, but that's not true. We just teach them to be independent at an early age."]

Senior Agila denied the rumors about forced marriage as well as marriage among children. He also clarified that they don't prohibit anyone from going outside their community.

On the issue regarding the collecting of funds and money, Senior Agila said "'Hindi 'yan totoo. Puro lang po yan haka-haka. 'Yung aming funds is pagtutulung-tulungan naming lahat. Mag-ambag-ambag. Ugali kasi namin 'yung pagbabayanihan."

["Those are just speculations. We didn't collect money. The money came from our contributions."]

Wilma Bañaga from Save the Children said that children have the right to study and pursue their dreams.

Meanwhile, Atty. Alvin Alburo clarified that there's a minimum age requirement for marriages. The marriage is not considered valid when someone below the age of 18 years old is married.

The escapees, however, continue to cry for justice.

"Gusto namin itama ang lahat ng pagkakamali namin. Panahon na para mabigyang hustisya 'yung naranasan ko," "Beth" said.

["We want to correct all of our mistakes. It's time to give justice to what I experienced," "Beth" said.]

As of writing, the  investigation about the alleged accusation surrounding Socorro Bayanihan Services, Inc. is still ongoing.