Alleged cult leader Senior Agila ‘can stop rain, make birds sing’

Testifying at the Senate hearing over the alleged human rights violations and "cult" practices of Socorro Bayanihan Services Incorporated, Riza Guma narrated how she became a die-hard member due to "supposed powers" of the group's leader, Jey Rence "Senior Agila" Quilario, to stop rain and voice changing ability.

Guma, a former educator, admitted that she previously left her teaching profession to serve full-time as a member of the Kapihan community, in Soccorro town, Surigao del Norte.

In her affidavit which was read by Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa during the hearing, Guma claimed that Quilario "was able to change and contort his voice into different persons."

"Yung cousin ko ay nagkasakit siya at dinala sa hospital at biglang dumating din si si Jey Rence Quilario. Pag dating niya sa ospital ay pabago-bago ang boses niya," Guma said.

She shared that Quilario can shift his voice into an old woman, a Godzilla, and an old man.

Dela Rosa then asked Quilario if he could really change his voice as alleged by Guma.

"Hindi po Iyan totoo," Quilario told Dela Rosa.

The senator continued reading Guma's affidavit. "Let the bird sing and unexpectedly, the bird sang."

"Yes po sir. May boses po ng ibon na biglang tumunog," Guma said.

"There was a time that it was raining hard and Senior Agila shouted: Let the rain stop! And indeed the heavy stop. Since then, we really became die-hard believers because of those supposed powers," she added.

Dela Rosa asked: "Huminto talaga yung ulan?"

Guma laughed it off and said. "Baka aksidente lang din po iyon."

The senator continued asking, "Why did you become a diehard member?"

"Noon po iyon Sir. Noong sobrang diehard ako, kaya nga tumigil po ako sa pagtuturo," she replied.

On the other hand, Senator Risa Hontiveros lambasted the group for depriving children of to access the right to education.

Despite being a teacher, Guma disclosed that even her own child was not allowed to study not until he left the community in June 2022.

Hontiveros asked Guma about her assessment of children still residing in Sitio Kapihan.

"Yung ibang bata po na nakapag-aral before pumunta doon sa bukid ay marunong silang magsulat at makabasa pero yung mga bata from age 5, hindi po sila marunong magsulat at magbasa," Guma told Hontiveros.

At least 200 minors don't know how to write and read, she confirmed.

"Dati kayong teacher. Papaanong napapayag kayo na hindi makapag-ara ang sarili ninyong anak?," Hontiveros asked.

Guma replied, "dahil ipinagbabawal na po ni Senior Agila 'yung pag-aaral." She added that who will disobey Quilario's orders would be heavily punished.

According to Hontiveros, SBSI Vice President Mamerto Galanida said the group is eyeing to build a school inside the community.

Guma brushed off the idea. "Ngayon lang din po sila nagplano na magtayo ng school noong pumutok na po yung kaso mam."

She claimed that the plan would serve as a cover-up from calling the SBSI a "cult."