Remulla says 19 child brides, 3 child grooms found in Socorro

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday said authorities found that there were 19 child brides and three child grooms at Sitio Kapihan in Socorro, Surigao del Norte.

“We found out there were 19 children… who are in common law relationships. It is— we’re talking about teenagers from 18 down na common law wives sila nung mga adults doon sa Socorro,” he said in a media briefing.

[We found out there were 19 children… who are in common law relationships. It is— we’re talking about teenagers 18 years old and below who are common law wives of adults in Socorro.]

“May mga lalaki rin, may tatlong lalaki na minors na with adults naman na babae [there are also three male minors who are with adult women],” he later added.

Remulla, however, described the supposed marriages as “common law relationships” or “live-in relationships” as these were void.

“Walang bisa yun eh kasi unang-una void ‘yan sa batas natin. You cannot marry off somebody who does not have the requisites to be married. Kasi meron tayong age of consent, meron tayong age of marriage, meron tayong kinakailangan solemnizing officers,” he said.

[That is void under our law. You cannot marry off somebody who does not have the requisites to be married. Because we have an age of consent, we have an age of marriage, we need solemnizing officers.]

Remulla earlier attended a meeting with representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of Education.

“We are adopting an integrated approach para ma-solve itong problema as a community. Kasi we cannot isolate any factors. We have to look at it as a community matter and with the aim of protecting the children who are the victims of certain practices na hindi dapat ginagawa sa mga bata,” he said.

[We are adopting an integrated approach to solve this problem as a community. Because we cannot isolate any factor. We have to look at it as a community matter and with the aim of protecting the children who are the victims of certain practices that should not be done to them.

Meanwhile, Remulla said Jey Rence Quilario or “Senior Agila,” the leader of the  Socorro Bayanihan Services, Inc. (SBSI), is only one of the many individuals who must be charged.

When asked if Quilario is only being controlled by someone, Remulla answered, “Parang ganon [something like that].”

“Kung hindi man, kasama sila sa support group, kasama sila influence group, kasama sila sa network of influence within that causes na kaya ganon ang patakbo ng lipunan kasi sila ‘yung gumagawa talaga ng mga patakaran, sila nag e-enforce,” he said.

[If not, they are part of the support group, they are part of the influence group, the network that influences within that causes that kind of society because they are the ones establishing and enforcing the rules.]

The issue first came to light after Senator Risa Hontiveros in September said that more than 1,000 minors were being sexually abused by a religious “cult” in Socorro town, Surigao del Norte.

Shortly after, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla revealed that the National Bureau of Investigation in the CARAGA region filed complaints against more than 10 individuals.

This also prompted a Senate panel to hold an inquiry, where Quilario and three others were cited in contempt after repeatedly denying that child marriages took place at Sitio Kapihan, Surigao del Norte despite testimonies from victims.

This coming Saturday, a joint Senate committee will conduct an ocular inspection at Sitio Kapihan to “produce a very credible committee report.”—LDF, GMA Integrated News

This article was updated to amend some lines. Our apologies.