This community in Agusan believes they're safe from COVID-19

The spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is already classified as a pandemic, but the fear and panic have yet to reach a community in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.

The community is called the "Zion of God" and the team of Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho went to the far-flung area which the religious group calls "Mt. Zion." 

Members enjoy free lodging and fulfil community tasks like planting vegetables. The meals are also free, as water. Members just contribute P20, P50 pesos. "

They live together in huts, have limited electricity, and no television and no wifi.

Here, the townsfolk dress in all-white, honor the flag of Israel, and look up to a "pastora" named Nieva Plaza as their leader. The former teacher and barangay kagawad claims to have started the group after God spoke to her in a dream.

"God called me at three o'clock in the morning. (He said) 'Nieva! Nieva! Gising!' (I answered) 'Lord, bakit ako? 'Di ko kaya, Lord.' Sabi ni Lord Jesus, 'Kaya mo, sasamahan kita'," she said. 

The community takes part in what they call a "holy fire baptism" wherein Nieva recites the passages out loud. Participants are then seen crying, shouting and flailing on the ground as though their souls leave their bodies.

"After shaking, aalis sila sa katawan nila," Nieva explains. "Tapos they will travel to hell, some of them will travel to heaven. 'Yung mga [may] willling na heart, 'yun na ang pinapasukan."

Nieva says their members are protected from different ailments, and that includes the coronavirus.

"Different sicknesses they have due to Satan, so aalis yun, pati coronavirus, malayo ‘yan dito sa Zion of God," she said.

An infectious disease specialist, however, clarified that nobody has ever been proven to be immune to the disease.

"Walang taong immune sa COVID, sapagkat this is the first time that this virus is introduced to humans," Dr. Arthur Dessi Roman explained.

The Zion of God's beliefs and practices have also been criticized by netizens on social media, but Nieva only has this to say:

“Para sa mga basher, I love you. Hindi ako baliw. Ang lahat na hindi enjoined sa holy spirit hindi talaga makakaintindi sa supernatural moving ng Diyos."

On Tuesday, the Philippines recorded another 45 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total up to a whopping 187. President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire country under the state of calamity. — Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News