An obscure religious movement, believed to be promoting an imminent end-of-the-world ideology, is facing accusations of sexual violence, forced marriage, extortion, and involvement in the drug trade. The Socorro Bayanihan Services, originally a civic organisation, has evolved into a quasi-religious group now known as Omega de Salonera. This group, alleged to be “armed and dangerous,” has raised concerns as it holds at least 3,500 members, including 1,580 children, within a heavily guarded mountain enclave on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines.
Senator Risa Hontiveros addressed the Senate of the Philippines on Monday night, shedding light on the harrowing allegations. She stated, “This is a harrowing story of rape, sexual violence, child abuse, forced marriage perpetrated on minors by a cult.”
In recent weeks, at least eight children managed to escape from the mountain community and shared distressing testimonies with authorities in Socorro town.
One 15-year-old, using the pseudonym Chloe, revealed that the group’s leader, Jey Rence B Quilario, forced her into marriage with a 21-year-old man when she was only 13. Quilario, who claims to be the reincarnation of Jesus and the world’s new savior, is referred to as The Messiah by group members. According to Chloe’s testimony, she was locked up with her husband and subjected to sexual abuse on multiple occasions, with Quilario allegedly asserting the husband’s right to rape her.
Hontiveros asserted that sexual crimes were committed against other children and teenagers residing in the mountain community, with witness accounts corroborating these claims.
The group’s origins trace back to a series of earthquakes in Surigao del Norte province in early 2019, which the leader exploited to persuade followers to join the movement in the mountains of Socorro, promising salvation from the imminent end of the world. Members were warned that refusing to leave their homes would result in eternal damnation. Consequently, a mass exodus took place, with followers surrendering their incomes.
Hontiveros also revealed suspicions about the group’s funding, suggesting it may be sourced from drug-related activities. She raised concerns that the true motivation of the group’s leaders might be to create a “human shield” to evade prosecution for their alleged involvement in the drug trade.
Senator Hontiveros’s office has requested authorities to initiate an investigation into these allegations. A senior member of the group, Mamerto Galanida, denied the accusations in a radio interview on Tuesday, claiming they were “unfair” and expressing readiness to cooperate with any investigation.
The Philippines has seen several religious groups labeled as “cults” by authorities in the past. In 2002, a confrontation between authorities and followers of another group in the Surigao region of Mindanao turned deadly when they resisted the arrest of their leader, who was suspected of massacring his own family members.
