Socorro case: DOJ eyes mid-November for release of resolution of complaints

The Department of Justice is eyeing to release the resolution of the complaints against members of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI) for trafficking and abuse of minors, among others, by mid-November.

“Target po namin is mid-November kasi magfa-file po ng supplemental complaint dahil sa huling hearing at sa mga bagong witness natin. May mga bagong alegasyon laban sa mga respondents. So magfa-file po ‘yung NBI assisted by prosecutors at bibigyan po ng oras sumagot ang mga respondents,” Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty said during the Senate finance committee hearing on DOJ’s  proposed 2024 budget.

(We are targeting mid-November because supplemental complaints will be filed after the last hearing and our new witnesses. There are new allegations against the respondents. So the NBI will file, assisted by prosecutors, and the respondents will be given time to reply.)

“Alam po namin na importante po ito, alam po namin ang timeline kaya ang target po ay hopefully malabas ang resolution by mid-November,” he added.

(We know that this is important, we know the timeline, so we hope to release the resolution by mid-November.)

The DOJ conducted a clarificatory hearing on the cases on Monday afternoon.

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who leads the Senate investigation, said they will discuss how the panel will deal with the detention of SBSI leader Jey Rence Quilario, also known as Senior Agila, and three others who were earlier cited in contempt by the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs.

Dela Rosa noted the case of SBSI vice president Mamerto Galanida, who was earlier brought to the hospital after his blood pressure spiked, as well as the appeal of their families for their release from Senate detention.

“Kung patuloy pa rin silang magsinungaling, baka umabot sila ng mid-November d’yan [If they continue to lie, they may still be in there by mid-November],” he said. — BM, GMA Integrated News