STUDENT-ACTIVIST YIELDS

Surrenderer a scholar of Misfi but opted to stop his scholarship because he doesn’t want to serve as volunteer teacher of Salugpongan Schools.

Mawab, Comval – A student-activist surrendered to the government authorities on August 24, 2018 at around 11 a.m. in Mawab.

Ian Fernandez Gulmatico also known as Ian, former scholar of Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Incorporated (MISFI) and student-activist, voluntarily submitted himself to the 71st Infantry (Kaibigan) Battalion at Purok 8, Brgy. Nueva Visayas, Mawab, Compostela Valley Province.

Ian was a scholar of Misfi from 2013 to 2016 and studied at Liceo de Davao University in Tagum City. He was in third year college when he decided to stop his scholarship.

Misfi is a community school based in Sitio Tyra, Brgy. Lapu-lapu, Maco, Compostela Valley Province which is allegedly penetrated by communist recruiters teaching students against the government.

According to Ian, he left as scholar of Misfi because he doesn't want to serve as volunteer teacher of Salugpungan Schools as stated in their scholarship contract as he believes he would become an instrument in destroying the government thru armed struggle.

Ian also revealed that when he was a student of Misfi, he joined several mass demonstrations against the government together with his schoolmates. These included the rally in Panacan, Davao City in 2016 calling for the freedom of political prisoners and rally at DepEd Davao City with an aim to expel the soldiers from the boondocks.

Aside from that, he also said that he underwent the NPA's Pambansang Demokratikong Paaralan (PADEPA) in 2015. / pr