Socorro NGO accused of child abuse eyeing to establish private school in community

MANILA, Philippines — An alleged religious "cult" based in Socorro is eyeing to establish its own private school for children in the community, the Department of Education said, even as the group faces charges for allegedly kidnapping and sexually abusing minors.

After allegedly causing more than 800 minors to drop out of school and flock to the mountains in 2019, Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI) has expressed its verbal intent to set up a school on an elevated area in Socorro town that used to be a tourist site, DepEd Siargao City Division Superintendent Karen Galanida said in an interview with Philstar.com.

While the group has yet to submit any formal document or application, an SBSI representative verbally asked the DepEd division office for a list of requirements needed for their application in May, Galanida said.

According to Galanida, the religious group has also scouted a location for their planned school, which DepEd officials learned of during their visit to the group’s headquarters on September 5.

DepEd officials were reportedly told by a representative of SBSI in charge of education — a former teacher at Soccoro Central School — that the group "plans to set up" a school in one of the unused buildings in what used to be the site for Kapihan View Park, a former tourist site under the SBSI’s care.

This was also confirmed by DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas, who told Philstar.com that there was "no formal application yet for the establishment of a school" but that they have been asking for requirements.

“Verbally, they mentioned that they are in the process of preparing for the establishment of a private school within the Kapihan,” Bringas said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Socorro town Mayor