Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday, Nov. 7 revealed that more than 200 children passed away in Sitio Kapihan, Surigao del Norte where the alleged cult, Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI), is situated.
During the second joint session in Senate, Hontiveros presented a photo of a notebook containing names of deceased children, ages newborn to four years old.
"Ako ay nagsaliksik pa nang mas malalim at ipinag tanong-tanong ko kung sino ba ang namatayan na anak na sanggol sa Kapihan. I was shown this sheet of paper. Mr. Chair, napakadami po nito. In fact, if our informants were to be believed, higit 200 ang namamatay na bata, from the ages of new born to four years old," she said.
"If this is true, why so many dead babies? Why are we allowing children to die? Hindi ba natin inaalagan ang mga sanggol sa Kapihan? Hindi ba patron ninyo si Santo Niño? Bakit nangangamatay ang mga Niño at Niña?," Hontiveros added.
The Senator also presented a Randolf Balbarino, who recounted how his newly-born child died in Sitio Kapihan.
"Noong December 14, 2020 nanganak ang asawa ko, early morning, madaling araw nanganak. Pagdating ko nang bahay, nando'n na pala ang asawa ko sa function hall na tinatawag na Medica Perpertua El Salvador," Balbarino said as translated by his legal counsel.
"Sinasabi sa akin, nahirapan siyang manganak dahil nauna ang paa. Pagkakarga ko sa bata, pale. May mga bubbles din na lumabas sa bibig ng bata," he continued.
Balbarino claimed that alleged SBSI leader Jey Rence Quilario, also called Senior Aguila, refused to send the child in a hospital.
But Quilario defended himself, saying he was not the leader when the incident happened.
"Your honor, noong panahon ng 2020, hindi pa po ako ang president. Hindi ko alam. Hindi po ako," he said.
The SBSI leader also denied that he was the one who compelled residents to abandon their accustomed lives and relocate to Sitio Kapihan.
After the joint session ended, Quilario along with Mamerto Galnida, Karen Sanico, and Janeth Tamayo Ajoc were arrested over Qualified Trafficking in Persons charges.
The National Bureau of Investigation brought them to detention.
