The Department of Justice (DOJ) is looking to transfer the criminal complaints filed before the Surigao del Norte Provincial Prosecutor’s Office against members of the Socorro Bayanihan Services accused of sexually abusing minors.
“Now that it has reached the level of national importance, it is ripe to be transferred already,” said DOJ Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano IV said during a press briefing.
“So we are looking at the possibility na intransfer ang mga kaso na ito dito sa DOJ,” the lawyer added.
Recently, Sen. Risa Hontiveros revealed the activities about the alleged cult during her privilege speech on Sept. 18 and alleged the group was engaged in the sexual abuse of minors and the illegal drugs trade.
Clavano said the complaints were filed last June 1 by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Socorro Mayor Riza Rafonselle Timcang, and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Chien Cen Dizon.
The 13 respondents named in the complaint have been accused of having violated Sec. 4 in relation to Sec. 6 of Republic Act (RA) 9208, otherwise known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003; kidnapping and serious illegal detention as defined and penalized under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC); violation of RA 11596, otherwise known as an Act Prohibiting the Practice of Child Marriage and Imposing Penalties in Violation Thereof; and violation RA 7610, otherwise known as Special Protection of Children Against Abuse Exploitation and Discrimination.
The DOJ spokesperson noted that the cases concerns alleged crimes committed from February 2019 up to 2023 in Sitio Kapihan, Barangay N. Sering, Socorro, Surigao del Norte.
“Wala pa pong preliminary investigation because they have inhibited the prosecutors lagi,” Clavano said.
The spokesperson learned from the NBI that “there were a series of motions that inhibited the prosecutors from the cases.”
