Two female cult leaders charged

A complaint for serious illegal detention in relation to child abuse was filed before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office yesterday against two cult leaders who allegedly held in detention 21 of their members including 10 minors.

Insp. Carlos Reyes Jr., Carmen Police chief, filed the complaint yesterday against sisters Jessica Sayson and Leonora Rubosto.

Six of the 21 cult members turned witnesses against the sisters.

Attached to Reyes’ one-page complaint are the joint affidavit of six detained cult members and the affidavit of Edilberto Sayson, Jessica’s husband.

In his affidavit, Sayson said that he and other members of their religious group, “Pagtulon-an sa Dios Amahan” gathered at Rubosto’s residence in sitio Beto in barangay Baring in Carmen at about 6:45 p.m. on March 20, Holy Thursday.

The group included Jose Velez, 38; Marnel Velez, 28; Angelo Pasaje, 34; and Marites Pasaje, 33, who are all from Baring, Carmen and Nestor Golez, 49, and Marilyn Golez, 25, who are from Pagsabungan in Mandaue City entered the Rubosto residence to pray.

The six cult members said Billy Rubosto used to head the group but Leonora and Jessica took over after he died.

They said that the two sisters prevented them from leaving the the house after they prayed. The sisters allegedly told them they could only leave until they received a message from God, the Father allowing them to leave the house.

Edilberto said the sisters prevented the members from leaving on March 21.

He said that the sisters warned that “bad elements will harm us if we forcibly go outside”.

But Sayson said he forced his way out of the house leaving behind his wife, Jessica and their one-year-old son. He then reported the incident to his father-in-law.

On Black Saturday, Sayson said that he sent text messages to Jessica to ask about her and their son’s condition, but got no reply.

He and his father-in-law sought the authorities help on March 24.

The police forced their way into Rubosta’s house and rescued the detained cult members after hours of negotiation failed.

All of the detained cult members were later taken into the custody of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

After the filing of the complaint yesterday Jessica and Leonora were not detained at the police station but were turned over to the DSWD.

With a report from Correspondent Rene F. Alima

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