Top leaders of an alleged cult in the Philippines found themselves in hot water as they faced contempt charges during a Senate hearing.

The controversy centers around accusations of child marriage and disturbing practices within the secretive organization known as Socorro Bayanihan Services Incorporated (SBSI).

The unfolding drama played out on Thursday, September 28, as the Senate public order committee listened to the testimonies of alleged cult members and victims, shedding light on a growing “cult” problem in the country.

All members of SBSI, including the alleged cult leader, Jay Rence Quilario, former Socorro mayor Mamerto Galanida, and other group leaders, Karen Sanico Jr. and Janeth Ajoc, steadfastly denied any involvement in child marriage.

The denials came despite chilling testimonies from at least three children who revealed horrifying experiences within the cult.

Fifteen-year-old “Mary” (not her real name) recounted how she was married off to a stranger at the tender age of 14. Quilario, known as “Senior Agila,” was said to have orchestrated these unions.

“Hindi daw sila puwedeng humindi, dahil Diyos naman daw ang nagsasabi na ‘yon ‘yung pares nila” (They could not refuse because they were told those pairings were made by God), Mary stated.

Mary further revealed that after the weddings, Quilario allegedly sanctioned husbands to rape their child brides, instilling fear that they would go to hell if they refused. She bravely resisted Quilario’s advances but still lived through the harrowing ordeal.

Another witness, Lovely Savandal, tearfully described how she watched her 12-year-old sister being forced into marriage with a complete stranger. The young brides were pressured into having sexual relations with their husbands, leading to constant scolding by Quilario.

Savandal explained, “Tapos nangyari ‘yung lahat ng ikinasal ni Senior Agila na minors po, pinalabas sa gate… Tapos kakalampagin po nila ‘yung gate [at sinasabi,] ‘Papasukin ‘nyo po kami kasi gabi at umuulan'” (One time, all the minors that Senior Agila married off were sent out the gate… And they would shake the bars of the gates saying, “Please let us in, because it’s nighttime and it’s raining”).

She described how Quilario demanded they kneel and promise to allow their husbands to have sex with them as a condition for forgiveness.

Tragically, these tales of suffering did not end there. Quilario and his alleged cult also subjected children to military training, effectively robbing them of their education and childhood.

Rules were enforced with an iron fist in Sitio Kapihan, where the alleged cult operated. Those who did not comply were reportedly locked in a small house known as the “fox hole,” beaten with wooden rifles, and even forced to swim in the “aroma beach,” where human waste was said to be discarded.

Despite the compelling evidence and harrowing accounts, Quilario vehemently denied all allegations. He, along with 13 others, currently faces multiple complaints including trafficking, kidnapping, serious illegal detention, child marriage, child abuse, and exploitation dating back to 2019.

After an exhaustive eight-hour hearing, Senate public order committee chair Ronald dela Rosa hinted at the possibility of further investigations in Socorro, emphasizing the logistical challenges of flying all witnesses to Manila.

The shocking revelations in this case underscore a troubling trend of cult-related issues in the Philippines, prompting authorities to take action and shed light on the extent of these clandestine organizations’ operations.