Tombs of infants discovered in Sitio Kapihan

Several tombs of infants were discovered in Sitio Kapihan, Socorro, Surigao del Norte, an enclave inhabited by members of the controversial Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI).

According to a ''24 Oras Weekend'' report by Ian Cruz, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who inspected the area on Saturday, discovered that some newborn and days-old babies were buried in the cemetery. 

“Bakit mga bata? Kulang kayo ng child care dito. One year, two years old, three years old, mamatay? Hindi ba dapat ang bata hindi ‘yan basta-basta mamamatay?” Dela Rosa told one of the SBSI members.

(Why children? It seems that you lack child care services here. Babies who are only one year, two years old, or three years old die? Aren’t they supposed to live longer?)

One of those buried was a child born on December 14, 2021, who died three days later without being brought to a hospital.

“Si Señor Aguila (SBSI leader Jey Rence Quilario) raw, sabi nila na siya ang reincarnation ni Señor Santo Niño kaya ‘yung mga bata na may sakit, bawal talagang ipagamot sa ibaba,” the father of the child said.

(Sick children cannot receive treatment elsewhere because they say Señor Aguila is the reincarnation of Señor Santo Niño.) 

The child was buried near a basketball court but was transferred to the cemetery this year.

Together with the National Bureau of Investigation, Dela Rosa ordered to exhume the remains of the child for investigation.

According to Senator Risa Hontiveros, the SBSI lacked proper documentation regarding the deaths of its members in Sitio Kapihan, including how they died and where they were laid to rest.

Hontiveros said this violates the Code on Sanitation (Presidential Decree 856).

Dela Rosa also met with Sitio Kapihan residents who are members of the group, especially the youth.

He was joined by staff members of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Hontiveros, as well as other agencies.

“Ready sila to answer the questions. Parang rehearsed. Lumalabas na ‘yung overall answers are going towards defending Señor Aguila na hindi talaga nagso-solemnize ng marriage,” Dela Rosa said.

(They are ready to answer the questions; it seems rehearsed. It appears their overall answers are going towards defending Señor Aguila, who supposedly does not solemnize marriage.)

“Iniiwasan talaga nila na maipit ang kanilang leader,” he added.

(They avoid putting their leader in a difficult situation.)

“Una, hindi bababa sa 22 child marriages sa loob ng Sitio Kapihan ang pormal nang naitala ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Ang nakakalungkot pa, kumpirmadong ang ilan sa mga child marriages ay nagbunga na rin ng mga anak. Kailangan magkaroon ng buong imbestigasyon kung nasaan at ano ang kalagayan ng mga batang ipinanganak sa child marriages,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

(The Department of Social Welfare and Development documented at least 22 child marriages in Sitio Kapihan. Sadly, some of these child marriages resulted in offspring. To find out where they are and the conditions of these children born through child marriages, a thorough investigation must be conducted.) 

Members of the group countered that even if there are minors being married, it is simply comparable to other places that permit teen marriage. —Jamil Santos/VBL, GMA Integrated News