Senior Agila

Jey Rence B. Quilario, more commonly known by his alias as Senior Agila, is the president of the Socorro Bayanihan Services group.

Senior Agila-Sama
Jey Rence "Senior Agila" Quilario during a Senate inquiry on September 28, 2023.
Born
Jey Rence B. Quilario

(2000-11-10) November 10, 2000
Socorro, Surigao del Norte, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Known forPresident of the Socorro Bayanihan Services
Musical career
Also known asSenior Agila-sama
Occupation(s)Composer, songwriter, producer
Instrument(s)
  • guitar
  • drums
LabelsALT Entertainment
Dancing career
Current groupOmega de Salonera

He was the subject of wider public attention in September 2023, when the group under his leadership faced allegations of sexual abuse and for being a cult.

Early life and education

Quilario was born on November 10, 2000, in barangay Nueva Estrella in the town of Socorro in Surigao del Norte province. His father Romel Quilario was a farmer married to a woman named Gengie.[1] An only child, both of his parents were teachers. His family were active members of the Philippine Independent Church (IFI).[2]

He attended the Socorro National High School.[1] He was a member of the dance troupe at school and often performed at events. He was known for being a jokester who had many friends and had high grades. After his family moved to Sitio Kapihan, he dropped out from high school,[2] after only completing two years of high school education.[3]

According to the official clarificatory statement of the IFI leadership in Socorro, Quilario was once an altar server who never showed remarkable record of performance and demonstrated instead some "dubious actuations".[4]

Career

Socorro Bayanihan Services

Quilario would become part of Socorro Bayanihan Services (SBSI), a civic organization in his hometown in 2017. He would convince the group's members in 2019 to move to Bucas Grande island still within the same town to settle at Sitio Kapihan after an earthquake.[5]

Quilario in December 2019 was endorsed by Rosalina Taruc, the founder of the Socorro Bayanihan Services (SBSI) and his former teacher at Socorro High, to be the president of the group. He is said to be hesitant from accepting the role due to his young age.[1]

After Taruc died on June 27, 2021, Quilario formally became president of SBSI.[1]

Divinity claims and teachings

According to ex-SBSI members there has been divinity claims involving Quilario.[5][6] The group a civic organization is claimed to have morphed into a religious group or "cult" under his leadership.[7][5]

Ex-members alleged that Quilario claimed to be God; specifically as the Santo Nino and a Messiah. Not complying with his orders supposedly would meant damnation in hell.[5][8] Quilario is said to be able to stop rains and make birds sing on command.[6] The claims of ex-members were denied by SBSI.[8]

Arts and media career

Quilario is a composer with the SBSI stating that "Senior Agila" is his screen name as a musician. The group claims that he is a member of the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (FILSCAP). FILSCAP confirms that they have a member of the same name but cannot claim Quilario is that person.[9] He can play various instruments including guitar and drums.[10]

He leads the Omega de Salonera performing arts group which is linked to the SBSI.[11][12]

Quilario would become chief executive officer of ALT Entertainment, which maintains ALT FM 105.5, a radio station at SBSI's Sitio Kapihan[1] He wrote and produced songs under ALT himself. One song written and produced by him is "Arikingking", a love song.[10]

In September 2023, the SBSI under his leadership would be alleged to be a cult, a characterization rejected by the group. The SBSI would face allegations of forced marriages and sexual abuse involving minors.[7][13][14] Underage members of the cult were allegedly forced to marry and have sex with adult partners, under the pretense that a "rule to go to heaven" requires such actions. During a public Senate hearing, an alleged former member of the cult claimed that young women who broke this rule was branded "adios" and were subject to cruel punishment, such as being locked in a fox hole or physically assaulted with a paddle.[15]

Criminal charges of qualified trafficking, kidnapping, serious illegal detention were filed against 13 SBSI members including Quilario himself.

These claims were denied by Quilario.[16] Quilario is alleged to forcibly arrange women, including minors for marriages as well as coercively asking for sexual favors.[17]

He attended a hearing by the Senate on September 28, 2023, to face the allegations. Quilario and three of his fellow members were cited for contempt by the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs which believed that they were lying on their response to the forced child marriage allegations.[18] He and other members of SBSI are currently detained in Senate quarters until the case is resolved.[19]

See also

References
  1. "Who is Surigao del Norte 'cult' leader Jay Rence Quilario?". Rappler. September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  2. De Castro (presenter), Bawa, Nico (correspondent) (September 29, 2023). Ilang kababata ni Quilario nagtaka kung paano siya naging lider ng SBSI [Some of Quilario's childhood friends baffled on how he became leader of SBSI]. TV Patrol (Television production) (in Filipino). Socorro, Surigao del Norte: ABS-CBN – via YouTube.
  3. Ramos-Araneta, Macon (September 30, 2023). "Bato convinced Socorro a cult, Agila 'figurehead'". Manila Standard. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  4. "CLARIFICATORY/DISTILLATION STATEMENT OF THE BISHOP AND CLERGY OF SIARGAO; (IGLESIA FILIPINA INDEPENDIENTE) ON THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE SBSI". Junrey Rabi. October 3, 2023. Archived from the original on October 5, 2023 – via Facebook.
  5. "Surigao Del Norte NGO accused of being a religious cult forcing minors into marriage and raping them, taking members' pension". Philstar Life. September 21, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  6. Abarca, Charie (September 28, 2023). "'Socorro cult' leader has power to stop rain, says ex-member". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  7. Staff, Al Jazeera (September 19, 2023). "Philippines doomsday 'cult' accused of sex abuse of children". Al Jazeera. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  8. "Socorro group: 'Senior Agila' a composer, not Sto. Nino's reincarnation". CNN Philippines. September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  9. "Socorro group: 'Senior Agila' a composer, not Sto. Nino's reincarnation". CNN Philippines. September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  10. Robles, Gio (correspondent) (September 29, 2023). Sino si 'Senior Agila' na lider ng Socorro Bayanihan Services? [Who is 'Senior Agila', the leader of Socorro Bayanihan Services?]. Frontline Tonight (Television production). Socorro, Surigao del Norte: TV5 / News5 – via YouTube.
  11. Bongcac, Doris (January 22, 2023). "Omega de Salonera: Bayanihan, discipline are the secrets to their success". Cebu Daily Inquirer. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  12. "What's next for Omega de Salonera? Possibly, the Wonju Dynamic Dance Carnival in South Korea". Cebu Daily Inquirer. Philippine Daily Inquirer. January 28, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  13. "Alleged Socorro cult denies sexual abuse among minors, defends child marriages". CNN Philippines. September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  14. "Socorro Bayanihan Services, nanindigang 'di sila kulto" [Socorro Bayanihan Services, insist that they are not a cult]. Brigada News (in Filipino). BNFM Makati. September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  15. Argosino, Faith (September 28, 2023). "Teen: 'Socorro cult' compel marriage, sex with adults 'to go to heaven'". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  16. Tupas, Emmanuel; Galvez, Daphne (September 20, 2023). "Raps filed vs Surigao del Norte 'cult' members". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  17. "Ex-members of Socorro group tell tales of forced marriages, rape". GMA News. September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  18. Africa, Raymond (September 28, 2023). "Surigao cult leader, 3 others cited in contempt, ordered det". Malaya Business Insight. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  19. Gallardo, Froilan (September 28, 2023). "Philippine Senate detains cult members accused of forcing children to marry". Benar News. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
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