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Manila Bulletin

Philippines

Escaped cult leader, 21 followers surrender to military in Mati City

Philippines

Escaped cult leader, 21 followers surrender to military in Mati City

By Ivy Tejano

DAVAO CITY – The accused leader of a religious cult Pinatikan, who was rescued on August 14 from the Davao Oriental Provincial Jail, surrendered to the military three days after the brave escape.

A report obtained from the Mati City Police Station revealed that the cult leader Cornelio Galon III, along with 21 others, surrendered to the Philippine Army’s 701st Brigade through Calapagan Cafgu detachment at around 2 p.m. on August 17.

Report said that a Cafgu personnel assigned in the detachment is related to one of the surrenders. The latter were presented to Davao Oriental Provincial Governor Nelson Dayanghirang.

The Davao Oriental Provincial Government confirmed in its official Facebook page that five of the 21 surrenderers are inmates, while the rest were among those who attacked the provincial jail to rescue their said leader.

Galon, along with six other inmates escaped when other members of the group called “The Divine Spiritual Governance of God and Heaven Inc.” forcibly entered the provincial jail last Saturday.

The jail guards were alleged to have been caught off guard, allowing Galon and six other detainees to be successfully rescued at Purok Maligaya in Barangay Sainz, Mati City. One alleged member of the cult was killed in the incident.

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