With their leader currently in jail, more and more members of the alleged cult Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI) were stepping forward to testify in the ongoing Senate inquiry on the controversy.
This was disclosed by Senator Ronald dela Rosa, chairman of the Senate Public Order and Illegal Drugs who said the would-be witnesses have sent words to the local government that they will give their testimonies on the SBSI.
“They have turned their back on the cult and became courageous now,” Dela Rosa said. The senator earlier noted that some of those who escaped from the group refused to cooperate in the investigation.
The group’s members refused to testify out of fear of their alleged leader, Jey Terence, alias Agil.
At present however, even the children who escaped from the cult aired their intention to testify before the Senate probe led by Dela Rosa and Senator Risa Hontiveros.
“That’s a good development. They became brave,” he said.
The senator said the next hearing on the cult’s forced marriages of minors and other crimes allegedly committed by the SBSI leader was set on Saturday.
Admitting that they could no longer find any illegal materials or contraband since the area had already been cleaned, Dela Rosa said they just want to make a realistic and very comprehensive committee report.
“So we need to go to the area. And given the chance, we can talk to the people there. Let us see the pulse of the people there… their reactions and their sentiments. That’s part of the investigation we are doing,” Dela Rosa said, himself a former chief ot the Philippine Narional Police.
Dela Rosa said he will be accompanied by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada as other senators have trips. But he hoped that other committee members will be available by the time they go to Socorro town in Surigao del Norte.
“Whether somebody will join me or not, I will proceed there because it was alreqdy scheduled,” he said.
Dela Rosa also disclosed he got letters from the family of Quilario and the three others who have remained in jail at the Senate detention facility asking to release them.
Quilario and the three other supposed leaders of the cult were cited in contempt for consistently denying forced marriages of minors within the cult.
Dela Rosa said they have to arrive at a collective decision. He stressed this is not a one-man committee wherein he will be the only ine to decide.