DENR suspends deal with Socorro group, eyes resettlement of members

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Friday said it has suspended its agreement with the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI) in managing a part of a protected area in Surigao del Norte.

In a statement, the DENR said it is investigating possible violations of the  group on the terms and conditions of the Protected Area Community-Based Resource Management Agreement (PACBRMA).

“The Department of Environment and Natural Resources suspends the PACBRMA of the People’s Organization (PO) Socorro Bayanihan Services Incorporated (SBSI),” it said.

“DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga issued a Letter of Suspension to SBSI pending further investigation into its gross violation of the terms and conditions of the PACBRMA,” it added.

A PACBRMA is a legal instrument between the DENR and tenured migrant groups to develop and conserve a portion of a protected area for 25 years, the department said.

The DENR said it will work with concerned government agencies to enforce the suspension and possible resettlement of the occupants.

In 2019, the DENR started its investigation on the group due to violations of the agreement.

These include the restriction of entry in the area, checkpoint setups, military-like training, resignation of teachers, uniformed personnel and barangay officials, as well as construction of structures within the area.

SBSI submitted its updated projects but the DENR rejected it due to non-compliance with certain provisions of the deal.

In 2021 and 2022, the DENR called the attention of the Socorro group on the recurring violations but it did not respond.

On Thursday, a Senate committee conducted a hearing on the alleged abuse and illegal activities of the supposed cult SBSI.

Its leader Jey Rence Quilario or Senior Agila and three other members were cited in contempt after repeatedly denying that child marriages took place in their group despite testimonies by victims.

Senator Risa Hontiveros revealed in a privilege speech the existence of the supposed religious “cult” nestled in an enclosed and heavily guarded area at Sitio Kapihan, a mountainous portion of Socorro town.

Hontiveros said the Senate received “alarming” reports of alleged rape, sexual abuse, forced labor, and forced marriage of minors in the group Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc.

“A Senate investigation is needed to immediately address these urgent and alarming issues, rescue the children, effect the reintegration into society of the victims, and identify policy gaps in legislation that allow these cults to operate in plain view of the local government unit and other institutions,” she had said proposed Senate Resolution No. 797.

The group was a people’s organization with 3,560 members including 1,587 children, the lawmaker said.—LDF, GMA Integrated News