In a remote island community in the Philippines, a young man convinced villagers he was their saviour. Now, he is accused of leading a doomsday cult and fostering child marriages, rape, forced labour and human trafficking.
When Jey Rence Quilario was just 17 years old, he managed to convince the members of his small Filipino village that he was their only saviour.
"They have child marriages, they have forced labour for the children and for the adults, and they are training children to be warriors, to be soldiers of God," Fionah Bojos, an attorney from Cebu for Human Rights who met with survivors, told the ABC.Now, Senior Agila and 12 of his loyal followers are facing charges of human trafficking, kidnapping and illegal detention.
She said other girls had been forced to marry at just 12 years old and were forced to have sex with Quilario as well as their "husbands". "We allow children to go out of our premises. We are not detaining them. They are allowed to go to school. No-one is prohibiting them." The Senate is also investigating allegations that the group is running an underground shabu — or methamphetamine — laboratory in a bunker near where Quilario and his fellow leaders live. Quilario has also denied these claims.
During an inspection in Sitio Kapihan, Senator Dela Rosa said the group was shown what was described as a mass grave of children and infants.Save the Children believes there are at least 1,500 minors among the 3,500 members of the Socorro community, and has urged the government of the Philippines to act.
Jey Rence Quilario, the leader of Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc, has denied allegations against his group and filed a counter-affadavit.Senator Dela Rosa said he knew the inquiry would be met with claims about religious discrimination, but defended the need for the investigation. There are reports tensions on the island are escalating and there are fears the senior leaders of the group, known as the Agilas, or soldiers of God, may pose a threat.
"Had it not been for these forces, there was really a threat and an imminent danger for violence escalation," he said. Ms Bojos told the ABC she is still concerned that the Agilas, leaders of the SBSI community, could become violent towards those who are left behind.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Meet drag star Taylor Sheesh, the Philippines’ answer to Swiftie maniaTaylor Swift’s Eras tour will skip the Philippines, but her Filipino fanbase has embraced the call centre worker turned drag act
Read more »
Ted Lasso, ‘a side business’ and Hardwick’s neighbour: Inside Hasler’s arrivalWhether he was discussing his rumoured dojo, his famous AFL neighbour, or his new club’s future, new Titans coach Des Hasler was as carefree as he has ever appeared.
Read more »
Look inside the exclusive Birdcage at the Melbourne Cup7NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Read more »
What a specialist police dog was searching for inside mushroom cook’s homeSpecialist police dogs were brought into the home of the woman accused of killing three family members at a fatal lunch to search for electronic devices.
Read more »
‘It was bizarre’: The inside story of Eddie Jones’ chaotic second comingThe second coming of Eddie Jones began with high hopes, and ended with Australian rugby in its deepest ever hole. How did it go so wrong?
Read more »
‘It was bizarre’: The inside story of Eddie Jones’ chaotic second-comingThe second coming of Eddie Jones began with high hopes, and ended with Australian rugby in its deepest ever hole. How did it go so wrong?
Read more »