By Jigger J. Jerusalem
Correspondent .
THE municipal police in Mambajao town, Camiguin, have urged on Saturday women who may have been sexually victimized by a cult leader, who was arrested recently for allegedly raping a young female for years, to come forward and take legal action against their alleged abuser.
Apprehended by the Mambajao police was Patronilo Magallon, 75, the leader of the “Gamhanang Amahan” (Powerful Father) cult based in Barangay Anito, last Tuesday.
Magallon’s followers, most of them his relatives, call Magallon “Ama” (Father) and believed his claims that he is the supreme deity and creator of the universe.
Magallon was arrested following the filing of complaint against him by a 21-year-old woman, who alleged that she was sexually abused by the suspect since she was 13.
The suspect’s common-law wife Gloria Marimon was also arrested for allegedly acting as his accomplice.
Magallon will be facing six counts of rape and one count of serious illegal detention, while Marimon was charged with serious illegal detention.
“If you have been a victim of sexual abuse
[by Magallon]
, do not hesitate to go to our office and file complaint,” said Capt. Arnold Gaabucayan, Mambajao municipal police chief.
Gaabucayan has assured complainants that they will be put under the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program once charges have been filed against Magallon.
Based on the accuser’s testimony, it was in 2011 when Magallon first forced himself on her.
In 2014, the victim attempted to escape from the cult’s compound but was caught. After that, she was constantly guarded and was imprisoned inside a room for a month.
She was finally able to escape on May 20.
Gaabucayan said the victim went straight to a relative, a former member of the cult, who helped her lodge a complaint before the police and the provincial prosecutor.
Magallon denied raping the victim and said that he has an erectile dysfunction as his defense.
It was not immediately known how many members did the cult has, but Gaabucayan said most of them are related to Magallon.
He said some of them live in a compound where Magallon’s house that also served as his church is located.
“The cult is like a family group, although there are also members who are not related to Magallon,” Gaabucayan said.
He said Magallon was a former Roman Catholic lay minister, who used to assist the priest during holy mass.
“That is why he was able to quote the Bible and twist some passages to suit his agenda,” Gaabucayan said.
Since many of his believers are semiliterate, Gaabucayan said it was easy to make them believe whatever Magallon tells them.
There was a time, for instance, he said, that Magallon “predicted” that a tragedy will befall Camiguin, and that only his compound will be spared.
Camiguin has long been considered as one of the country’s premiere tourist destinations with its number of springs, falls, white sand beaches, dive spots, and other attractions.
In 2012, a flood hit four of the island-province’s towns – Mahinog, Guinsiliban, Sagay, Catarman–except Mambajao.
Gaabucayan said Magallon used that calamity to prove the point that he is a powerful god who can predict future events.
“He capitalized that situation and was able to convince his followers. And they believed him,” he said.
Gaabucayan said Magallon was able to control his members that even the victim’s mother sided with him.
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