Woman rescued, child’s bones unearthed: NBI raids “cult lair”

CEBU, Philippines -  A National Bureau of Investigation-7 operation intended to rescue an “illegally detained” woman yesterday dawn led to the discovery of the remains of a boy buried deep inside a 30-foot tunnel under the house of a “cult leader” in Balamban town.

Aside from illegal detention and human trafficking, Casiano “Tatay Loloy” Abduhan, 45, of Sitio Laray 3, Barangay Buanoy, Balamban, is now being held for murder over the death of Angelo Refuela, who was 12 when he died and was buried under Abduhan’s house three years ago.

Led by agent Rey Villordon, the NBI, along with Provincial Women’s Commission representatives, raided the house of Abduhan, said to be the leader of local cult Dios Amahan¸ to rescue 28-year-old Tricia (real name withheld).

Buanoy Barangay Captain Clyde Seblos told the media that Tricia’s mother, Agatha, sought their assistance over her daughter, whom Abduhan allegedly illegally detained inside his house.

Seblos then went to the NBI and the Cebu provincial government’s PWC for help.

The NBI first conducted a two-week surveillance before applying for a search warrant, which was issued by Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Hermes Montero of Toledo City.

Abduhan’s wife Henrize, 54, told The FREEMAN that the NBI operatives simply barged into their house and only showed the search warrant, which her eldest son Sianrez received, after the recovery of Angelo’s remains and the arrest of her husband.

She said they were awakened by noise outside their house and that the NBI operatives broke several of their things.  Henrize and Abduhan both denied knowledge about Angelo, alleging that the boy’s parents, Terio and Remedios, should be the one to blame.

They said Terio and Remedios worked as caretakers of their house after they went to see Abduhan to have their boy treated.

 â€œWe are blind. It was September last year nakahibawo mi nga naay gilubong human nilayas si Terio. Niadtong panahona didto mi’g (when we learned about the body after Terio left.  When he buried the body, we were still in) Negros….  With what happened plano namo nga mo-countercharge sa couple kay ilang gilubong ang ilang anak sa among (we plan to sue Terio and Remedios for burying their son in our) property without asking permission,” Henrize said.

She alleged that after the Refuelas came to have Angelo treated, the boy got well and that they did not know that Angelo died.

“We were informed nga nibalik ang couple sa ilang lugar sa Alpaco, Naga City, Cebu, kay mo-eskwela daw ang bata,” she said, adding that she was shocked when the NBI raided their house.

Henrize said they were Catholic and not cult members.

Seblos, though, said that in 2011, Angelo died and his parents were made to work under Abduhan. In return, they were told that Abduhan would bring back Angelo in 2013, which did not come true.

Seblos also said that Tricia’s parents were made to believe she went to Italy and that they found out only recently that Abduhan illegally detained her. Tricia allegedly tried to escape last Thursday but Abduhan caught her.

Yesterday, however, when Agatha started uttering unpleasant words against Abduhan, her daughter told her not to because Abduhan was allegedly “sacred”.

Aside from rescuing Tricia and finding Angelo’s bones, the NBI also discovered two handguns, among others, inside Abduhan’s house.

In an interview, Abduhan said that Tricia was actually free to leave his house and that they never stopped her from doing so.

He also denied the allegation that he told Angelo’s parents that he would bring him back to life.

At the Capitol, Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, PWC and Provincial Council for the Welfare of Children (PCWC) chairman, assured that appropriate charges would be filed against Abduhan.

Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, PWC and PCWC co-chairman, said the Cebu Province would provide assistance for the psychological rehabilitation of Tricia, who would be placed in a healing center for psychological and physical examinations.

Magpale said that Agatha sought her help a month ago for the rescue of her daughter, who was allegedly missing for five years.

“She (mother) was told nga ang iyang (her) daughter was working daw in Italy as an Overseas Filipino Worker. But somebody tipped her (off) nga nakit-an ra somewhere in Balamban,” the vice governor said.

This prompted the Capitol’s Technical Working Committee and the National Bureau of Investigation to do surveillance in Balamban town where the lady was spotted.

“The team said nga positive dunay witnesses nga miingon nga naa gyod kuno sa usa ka (who said Tricia was in a) villa diha sa (in) Balamban… Among role is to rescue ra gyod. We never expected to bump into something,” Magpale said, referring to the remains of Angelo.

Magpale called on the Cebuano community to be vigilant over the actions of “cults” in different areas of the province.

Balamban Mayor Ace Binghay was grateful that some members of the “cult” have taken courage to report, as some of them allegedly experienced abuses and even became “sex slaves.”

“Gipatrabaho sila sa (They were made to work in the) compound. Wa daw ni sila sweldohi (They did not receive any compensation). Some members are coming from Negros (province) and other areas in the province (of Cebu),” he said.—/RHM (FREEMAN)