Doomsday cult leader who says he is reincarnation of Jesus is turning 1,500 children into sex slaves on remote Philippines island, lawmakers say
Doomsday cult leader who says he is the reincarnation of Jesus is turning 1,500 children into sex slaves on a remote Philippine island, lawmakers say
- Jey Rence B Quilario was accused this week of leading a doomsday cult
Dressed in a white suit with a gold watch and aviator sunglasses, the leader of the quasi-religious sect Omega de Salonera looks more like a pop star than a messiah.
But Jey Rence B. Quilario was accused this week of leading a doomsday cult where “rape, sexual violence, child abuse and forced marriage were committed on minors.”
Quilario, who claims to be a reincarnation of Jesus, was cited for using both congressional privilege and his group in connection with “widespread exploitation.”
And Save the Children has urged the Philippine government to take immediate action to free an estimated 1,500 children held by the sect on a remote island.
On Monday, Senate Committee on Women and Children Chairman Senator Risa Hontiveros said: “This is a harrowing story of rape, sexual violence, child abuse and forced marriage committed on minors by a cult in the municipality of Socorro, Surigao del Norte.
“We are talking about more than a thousand young people in the hands of a deceptive, cruel and abusive cult… real children are in danger, and time is of the essence. We cannot and must not look away.’
Jey Rence B Quilario was accused this week of leading a doomsday cult where “rape, sexual violence, child abuse and forced marriage were committed on minors.”
News of the situation prompted Save the Children to intervene on Friday to protect the young people
Another senator, Ronald Dela Rosa, accused the group’s leaders of using cult members as “human shields.” the Telegraph reports.
He accused the group of running a meth lab in an underground bunker near where Quilario and his fellow leaders live.
News of the situation was requested Save the children intervene on Friday to protect the young people.
Alberto Muyot, CEO of the organization’s Philippine chapter, said: “We urge the government, and in particular our law enforcement agencies, to immediately and thoroughly investigate these incidents.
‘Ensure the protection of the affected children and bring the perpetrators to justice.’
After an earthquake rocked the region, the sect took advantage of the natural disaster to lure thousands to its goal in its mountain lair
Senator Hontiveros recounted how a 15-year-old known as Chloe was forced into marriage by Quilario to marry a 21-year-old man when she was just 13.
She alleged that he locked her in a room with her new husband and told him that “he had the right to rape her.”
Local authorities have also provided information claiming that underage girls were forced to have sex with Quilario.
The sect started as a civilian organization called Socorro Bayanihan Services.
But in 2017 it turned into a quasi-religious group calling itself Omega de Salonera.
After an earthquake shook the region, the country exploited it to draw thousands to its cause in its mountain lair, according to claims by members of Congress.
The sect said joining it was the way to avoid the looming threat of eternal damnation.
Socorro Bayanihan Services has categorically denied all allegations.
It says the children making the claims made them up.