Tourist arrivals in Socorro dropped by 62.9%, Task Force says

The number of tourists visiting Socorro, Surigao del Norte decreased by as much as 62.9% in October 2023, according to Task Force Kapihan spokesperson Edelito Sangco.

That's one month after alleged sexual abuse and forced marriage to minors were disclosed at the Senate, Sangco told the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on Tuesday. 

According to Sangco, the province's tourism was affected by the controversy and spooked people from visiting its attractions such as Sohoton Cove and its non-sting jellyfish.

"Ang mga turista doon ay natatakot na sa isyung ito. Ang takot ng mga turista patungkol sa presence ng kulto na tinatawag na 2212 na may sariling private army, at merong suicidal doctrine na katulad ng ISIS at ng Maute na pwedeng pumatay at magpakamatay sa kanilang diyos," Sangco said.

(The tourists became afraid. Their fear stemmed from the presence of a cult called 2212 that has its own private army and has a suicidal doctrine similar to ISIS and Maute that can kill and commit suicide for their god.)

When the issue was exposed in September 2023 by Senator Risa Hontiveros, Sangco said tourism arrivals in Socorro had already dropped by 42%.

It further dipped to 62.9% in October while the Senate is in the middle of its hearing and investigation into the matter.

“Makita natin sa data ng tourism office, sa August merong 8,792 tourists. Pero ‘pag September, nag-baba ng 5,062. So, 3,730 ‘yung difference niya. Ang matindi ‘pag October, nagiging 1,877 na lang,” said Sangco.

(Based on data from the tourism office, in August there were 8,792 tourists. But in September, it dropped to 5,062. So, it had a difference of 3,730 tourists. Then it further slipped to just 1,877 tourists in October.)

The Task Force Kapihan also feared that the “cult scare” may further escalate to Siargao, which is a top tourist destination in the country.

“Dahil ang Socorro sa Bukas Grande ay nasa part siya ng Siargao…chances are high, mag-escalate itong takot ng turista sa kulto doon mismo sa Siargao. Malaki ang tyansa na hindi lang sa aming maapektuhan, kundi ang buong Siargao na napaka-gandang isla,” he added.

(Since Socorro in Bukas Grande is part of Siargao, chances are high that the tourists’ fear may affect Siargao tourism. There is a big chance that the beautiful island of Siargao will be affected by this.)

As a solution, the Socorro local government plans to disintegrate the Sitio Kaiphan which is inhabited by SBSI members, and reintegrate the residents into the communities they belonged to prior to February 2019.

He said the residents used to live in nine nearby barangays, namely: Salog, Honrado, Del Pilar, Songkoy, Nueva Estrella, Rizal, Navarro, Taruc, and Sudlon.

Sangco said the reintegration project throughout 2023 to 2024 would require a budget of at least P168 million. 

Surigao del Norte Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers said in September that the SBSI members started living in the mountain after an earthquake in 2019.

In the same month, Hontiveros filed proposed Senate Resolution No. 797, noting that the Senate received “alarming” reports of alleged rape, sexual abuse, forced labor, and forced marriage of minors in SBSI, led by Jey Rence Quilario or “Senior Agila.”

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday arrested Quilario and other members over alleged human trafficking.  —VAL, GMA Integrated News