Yogi ‘sexually abuses’ many Sagada children; disappears

PNP, MSWD hit; charges filed

SAGADA, Mountain Province – Folks of this tourist town urged authorities to give justice to children and minors of this tourist town who have been sexually abused by a yogi even as the Philippine National Police and Municipal Social Works and Development Office were assailed for not doing enough.

The yogi, who earns his living here as a masseur, charged for sexually abusing minors, one of whom reportedly gave birth to his child has fled Sagada and is nowhere to be found.

The accused identified as Rolando Bandril Jr from Marikina, Manila was charged with alleged acts of sexual abuse in relation to Republic Act 7610, an Act providing stronger deterrence and protection against child abuse, exploitation and discrimination. Bandril is also known here as Vishok or Yogi.

Filed at the fiscal’s office at the Dept. of Justice at the capital town of  Bontoc(45-minute drive from here)  were four separate  complaints  from parents of  four children in their elementary years  who accused Bandril of sexually abusing  the minors since 2014.  Said children are now in grade 6 at the elementary level.

Fiscal Golda Bagawi of the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office here said a resolution has been  arrivedat  identifying two complaints  with acts of lasciviousness and other two complaints of sexual abuse. Said cases shall be filed by next week at the Regional Trial Court, she said.

Police officers of the children’s and women’s desk of the Sagada police station here accompanied the parents and children-victims in filing said complaints July this year.

A warrant of arrest has yet to be released.

Bandrilhad fled Sagada since a group of around 50 angry women of barangays Ambasing, Dagdag and Demang arrested and paraded him in town July this year and brought him to the  police station.

The police though released the accused because there was no warrant for his arrest nor was he doing an illegal act when arrested by the women, police said.    

Accused Bandril had been initially staying at Barangay Demang for some years and moved to  nearby Dagdag early this year.

He does massage services for tourists and residents as source of living.  

Police Officer Julia Maledom of the children’s and women’s desk of the police station here earlier said the concerned legal office shall  identify what specific  sexual offense the accused allegedly committed following preliminary investigation.

“We await others who believe their children have been victimized to come to the police station and report their complaint,”Maledom said.

This, as a statement released by RacquelPul-ocan of

Babbai Ipinget ti Naregta ken Nadur-as a Dangadang (Binnadang) Innabuyog– Mt. Province, a non-government organization said, “The children fetch water for Bandril in exchange for P20. They are then convinced to enter his room looking forward to receiving their earnings. But instead of giving the money, Vishok locks the door, gets naked, shows them indecent sexual acts, and through threat of force, engages them to massage his groin and penis. After being done with them, he then gives them P30 to P40. School kids as young as 5 years old were also exploited through the obscene shows Bandril lets them watch inside his apartment.”

The statement added, “as of today, there are nine young girls and boys aged 5 to 16 who were victimized by Vishok. We are aghast for the torture our children had to endure. One child even cries just by the mention of the perpetrator’s name. Few others experience selective mutism. Another, now a Grade 11 Senior High School student, got pregnant and gave birth last June of this year. She is firm that Vishok is the father of her child but not her boyfriend, and that she will not marry him should he ask her. Her firm stand should be a challenge for all of us.

“We also condemn the local police and the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWD) for turning a blind eye to the complaints against Vishok and for not giving ample attention to protect the rights and welfare of the victims.

“The police’s and MSWD’s lack of persistence to pursue the case alarmed and forced us to do the arrest (of Bandril.) Worse, such inefficiency resulted eventually to the administered escape of the perpetrator in the wee hours of August 3 to god-knows-where.

“We have embraced Vishok as part of our community even though we have no clear background as to who he is. We trusted him like we trust in each other. Thus, what he did is unacceptable, deplorable, and contrary to our values as Igorots, more so, as human beings. First, it is absolutely forbidden to assault children, whether or not they are your relatives. They are priceless treasures that should be nurtured and safeguarded at any cost. Only men or women with no honor can do such crime against them. And the actions or lack thereof of the concerned agencies give the impression that our community does not care what happens to our children  – that we do not trust in their honesty such that their statements which is a clear shout  for help are dismissed as heresy and do not warrant immediate investigation or action.

“Second, we do not coddle law offenders though we consider visitors as one of our own. More so, we do not condone such crimes. Sagada is a haven not for criminals but for peace-loving citizens,” the statement ended.

This as some folks here said it was wrong for Binnadang or other so-called non-government organizations to blame the police for not arresting Bandril considering that they have standard operating rules to follow like in effecting arrests.

One said organizations should be more mature and discerning before coming out with such statements to forward their own interests. 

In the case of the MSWD, one (who requeste4d anonymity) said they may not have been aware of the alleged sexual violations against the children by Bandril. Even though, he said the MSWD should do all it can to extend services to victims and their families. /Gina Dizon