DOJ firm on Manila probe vs Socorro ‘cult’

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday denied a request of the Socorro Bayanihan Service Inc. (SBSI) to conduct the preliminary investigation into alleged crimes committed by some of the group’s leaders in its hinterland community in Socorro, Surigao del Norte.

“We’ll conduct a preliminary investigation here (in Manila), we call everybody here. If they don’t want to come, it’s their problem,” Remulla said during a media briefing.

He said the SBSI’s alleged lack of funds is not a problem of the DOJ, noting that the justice department would shoulder the expenses of the complainants in going to Metro Manila to attend the proceedings.

In a separate interview, Remulla said the DOJ would send personnel to check the situation in Socorro, but the preliminary investigation would be conducted at the department’s main office in Manila.

“The reason we are stepping into the picture is because people there are unable to function properly due to threats and intimidation,” he said.

Remulla said he issued an order to transfer the preliminary investigation from Surigao del Norte to Manila.

The investigation will start once the DOJ receives the transmittal documents from the provincial prosecutor.

A panel of prosecutors will be formed after the complaints are evaluated.

Remulla said the complainants and witnesses are expected to attend a Senate inquiry on the allegations against the SBSI on Sept. 28.

After the Senate hearing, the victims will be brought to the DOJ to subscribe to their sworn statements and complaints.

Complaints of rape, and forced and child marriages have been filed against some members of the SBSI since June.

The National Bureau of Investigation has recommended the filing of charges of qualified trafficking and kidnapping as well as serious illegal detention against Jey Rence Quilario, the alleged leader of the SBSI, and 12 other members.

Comelec to assess situation in Socorro

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it would assess the situation in Socorro to determine if it would affect the conduct of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in Surigao del Norte on Oct. 30.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said he would attend a command conference in Butuan to personally assess the peace and order situation, and if the Comelec could freely conduct the elections.

Garcia cited a Comelec directive that no failure of elections would be declared “at all costs” during the BSKE polls.

He said there are areas that could be placed under the control of the Comelec to ensure that the right of the people to vote is protected.

Among the areas that have been placed under Comelec control is Negros Oriental due to security-related concerns brought about by the assassination of governor Roel Degamo on March 4.