5 of 10 raps filed vs alleged Surigao del Norte cult members junked

File photo of Jey Rence Quilario, alias Senior Agila. | PHOTO: Official facebook page of Socorro Bayanihan Services, Inc.

MANILA, Philippines — Five of the ten charges filed against members of the alleged sex cult in Socorro, Surigao del Norte have been dismissed, according to Philippine National Police (PNP).

The case for violation of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) for usurpation of authority and another charge  for illegal use of uniform/insignia were dismissed by Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) of Dapa-Socorro Surigao del Norte.

Lack of jurisdiction was cited as the reason.

The cases were filed in 2019.

This report is based on a document obtained by INQUIRER.net from the police.

The accused are led by cult leader Jey Rence Quilario, alias ‘Senior Aguila,” who allegedly runs a sex cult under the name Socorro Bayanihan Services Incorported.

Meanwhile, a 2021 case for Alarm and Scandal filed against them in 2021 was also junked by the same court for lack of probable cause.

Two other charges were rejected at the prosecutor’s level.

These were violations of Article 133 of RPC and Republic Act (RA) 9262 or Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004 (VAWC).

Meanwhile, on the remaining cases, one is for violation of VAWC.

This complaint is pending before is Dapa, Surigao Regional Trial Court.

A warrant of arrest has been issued by the judge.

Two other cases for qualified trafficking, kidnapping, serious illegal detention, violation of the Anti-Child Abuse Law and obstruction of justice, are under preliminary investigation in the prosecutor’s office.

In another case of violation of VAWC, the accused has already posted bail worth P72,000.

Earlier, PNP and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said they have started investigating the circumstances surrounding an alleged sex cult that has 3,650 persons as members.

This number includes 1,587 minors.

According to Senator Risa Hontiveros’ exposè, Quilario purportedly “engages in acts of sexual abuse and violence against minors.”

Based on the first-hand testimonies she gathered, the cult leader would facilitate marriages of 12-year-old children with adult members.

He would also allegedly order the minors to sleep with him.

Moreover, witnesses claimed to have seen members commit murder.

They also said Quilario operates a shabu laboratory in his residence.

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