DOJ rejects Soccoro Bayanihan leaders' request to be investigated in their own turf

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice has thumbed down a request from leaders of an alleged “cult” in Soccoro to hold their investigation of the group’s activities in their own locality, citing doubts over the authenticity of members’ answers due to intimidation within the circle.

Leaders of Socorro Bayanihan Services, Inc., a group based in Sitio Kapihan, Socorro, Surigao del Norte, have been accused of committing rape, sexual abuse, forced labor and child marriages, as well as harboring firearms and illegal drugs laboratories.

In her privilege speech last week, Sen. Risa Hontiveros bared that numerous cases of rape, have been committed against minors, with the leaders of the group facilitating marriages of children as young as 12 years old with adults.

The Philippines is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and is obligated to pursue all possible measures to protect children from all forms of abuse and violence.

Justice Secretary Boying Remulla said that it is a “big no” to hold the preliminary investigation there.

“We can send people to look at the scene, but not to investigate,” Remulla said in CNN Philippines’ The Source. “If we have to (shoulder their transportation), we will.”

He said that fear and intimidation could be keeping some members of the group from speaking out.

“It is very difficult for the prosecutors to act on this case and that’s why we’re stepping in. The details of the complaint I can't speak about that, but what I can say is that we have to investigate it as the DOJ because thats what the circumstances demand of us,” Remulla said.

“(There is) non-cooperation and it’s the intimidation that were trying to avoid here. Some people are just too pushy on