THE accused leader of a religious group Pinatikan that escaped from the Davao Oriental Provincial Jail on Saturday, August 14, surrendered to the military three days after.
In a press release, the religious leader Cornelio Galon III, along with 21 others, surrendered to the Philippine Army’s 701st Brigade through the Calapagan Cafgu detachment around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 17.
According to the report, a Cafgu personnel assigned in the Calapagan detachment is said to be related to one of the surrenders.
The members of the religious group called the "Divine Spiritual Governance of God and Heaven, Inc." surrendered to authorities in Sitio Sawidan, Barangay Tagbinonga in Mati City.
The Davao Oriental Provincial Government, through its official Facebook page, said that five of the surrenderers are inmates while 17 were involved in the attack on the provincial jail.
Galon was arrested in violation of Republic Act 9516 or Illegal/Unlawful Possession of Firearms and Explosives.
The surrenderers were presented to Governor Nelson Dayanghirang.
Dayanghirang said despite the group's contribution to law and order in the province, as some of their members are also Cafgu members, he said they still need to undergo due process of the law.
“Kining tawhana dili man ni kontra sa gobyerno. Gani kadagahnanan sa [ilang] mga kaubanan nga Pinatikan kay mga Cafgu nga kauban nato nga nakigubat ngadto sa mga kontra sa gobyerno. So mao ako tumong nga human panagstorya naa na daan ako paninguha nga unsa paagi tabangan,” the governor said.
(These people are not anti-government militias. In fact, most of their members are part of the government fighting against insurgents. This is our goal of having a dialogue with them on what help we can offer.)
“[Pero] sabton nato nga naa man tay balaod. Naa may ebidensya. Nadakpan man siya ug illegal na mga pusil ug expolsives. So atubangon nato na ug tan-awon nato ang pamaagi kung unsa ang possible nga solusyon. Pero dili solusyon ang mangita napod ta ug bagong problema...” he added.
(However, we have to understand that there is a law. There is evidence. He [Galon] was apprehended for illegal possession of weapons and explosives. He needs to face it and look for a solution. But it should not be a solution that causes another problem.)
The governor thanked the group for surrendering and open a dialogue with them.
Galon, along with six other inmates escaped when more than 20 members of Galon’s attacked the provincial jail. One of the attackers was killed while another one was arrested Monday, August 16.
The religious leader, according to the report, said the group surrendered as they got tired and worried about their current situation.
“Ni desiyon sila pila ka adlaw kay lisod magtago-tago sa bukid nga wala tay saktong kaon, wala sakto nga financial support,” Galon said.
(The group decided days ago because it is hard to be a fugitive in the hinterlands with no adequate food and no stable financial support.)