PBCM disowns 11 cultists who burned own grandma

DOING inhuman acts with the appetite for destruction and evilness is not the handiwork of the Philippine Benevolent Christian Missionaries Association of Mercy, Incorporated as it’s a stark contrast to the religious doctrines and principles followed by the PBCM’s Kingdom of the Holy Spirit church.

“Evil works have nothing to do with us,” said Charlito R. Eugenio, son of the late PBCM founding head Tomas D. Eugenio Sr, as he disowned the eleven cultists from Baliwagan, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental who burned to death their own matriarch on Friday dawn.

The 84-year-old Teofila Camongay Cabusas suffered fatal third-degree burns when eleven cultists, mostly composed of her own children and grandchildren, hurled her into a pile of burning wood as part of their ritual to purge her from her “great sins” upon the order of their leader Cresanto Ercilla, who is only 20 years old.

The seemingly evil-possessed Cresanto and six others namely Nicolas Cabusas, Romeo Ercilla, Reymer Carno Cabusas, Charlie Cabusas, Jocelyn Cabusas Ercilla, and Rochel Ercilla are now facing parricide charges as they were being brought to the local court on Tuesday, August 30 for the inquest. The four others identified as Rosalinda Cabusas, Merlinda Cabusas, Jeramil Torres Rotula and his brother Jesser Rotula have also surrendered with the same case.

Major Teodoro de Oro, Balingasag town police chief, said that Nicolas, Jocelyn, Rosalinda, and Merlinda are the victim’s children. While Cresanto, Romeo, and Rochel are her grandchildren, including Reymer Carno and Charlie.

Jesser’s brother Jeramil is his live-in partner of Jocelyn.

“The younger Cresanto Ercilla used to hurt them as a cruel leader of the group. We handcuffed and separated him from the rest because he is harmful and aggressive as we head to the local courts of Balingasag on Tuesday,” De Oro said.

“They’re already smelly and maybe quite hungry but they refused to take a bath and eat something before the court proceedings. They all doubted the cleanliness of the foods we offer and so the waters,” he added.

Interviewed over Magnum Radyo, the fresh-from-Manila Eugenio, who is chairman of Barangay San Antonio, Jasaan and executive vice president of PBCM, called Ercilla’s group as a breakaway or a “black sheep” of the Kingdom of the Holy Spirit church.

“While they were with us before, they just did the most horrible thing that we don’t care (about) them anymore. What they made was against the preaching of the late Divine Master Tomas Eugenio Sr who was my father and who was already long rested.”

“Yes, they were legitimate members when they were not yet insane. Now, we have nothing to do with them.”

Eugenio said it saddened him and the PBCM followers that a cold-blooded criminal has dragged his father’s name, claiming his spirit has possessed Ercilla, and whispered to him to lead the ritual killing.

“If Baal’s god is to allow human burning, the PBCM belief is wholly different. Ercilla’s group may have found other gods, like the god of the fools and insane. They parted away with the teachings of the Divine Master. Now, look what had happened to them,” said Eugenio.

Eugenio also expressed disappointment for PBCM to be called a cult group by some people and in media reporting.

“We are God-obeying and law-abiding citizens,” said Eugenio, even as he argued that even the word “cult” is not evil by the dictionary’s own definition.

“One may call our religious worship a cult but it depends upon the understanding of everyone if you agree or disagree. So, let us just respect than give an opinion that will hurt our brethren in the PBCM,” Eugenio pointed out.

The Provincial Capitol Office through PB member Gerardo Sabal III said that juvenile crimes perpetrated by young offenders must be taken seriously.

Sabal said they will bring the matters to the attention of Col Gonzalo Villamor Jr, who is the province’s new PNP director.

“We expect to hear from him soon about his peace and order plan for the province,” Sabal said.