Unspeakable Crimes - Fitzgerald
Document Title: Unspeakable Crimes - Fitzgerald
Document Ref No: R9409231
First Published: Reflections - Philippine Daily Inquirer
Publication Date: 23rd September 1994
Author's Name: Father Shay Cullen SSC
There is growing hope for the sexually abused children as more criminals who abuse them are now actually being investigated and charged before the courts.
Perhaps it was the scandal over the release of the Indian nationals who were destroying our children with their illegal drug manufacturing that has brought a new sense of urgency and change of policy of the Department of Justice.
Credit must be given to the Secretary of Justice Franklin Drilon in appointing Undersecretary Ramon Liwag to try and sort out the mess that is the Bureau of Immigration (BOI). As the acting Commissioner for Immigration, Undersecretary Liwag has been revealing the extent of the problem that goes well beyond the allegedly nonexisting filing and record keeping in the Bureau.
It seems that there is no one in charge of anything but their own side-lines. The detention of prisoners is another serious problem because the suspects, no matter how strong the evidence, can be released out of "consideration".
Hundreds of paedophiles and other criminals have flown away laughing with their loot after paying a pittance in a bribe.
When the date for the arraignment of Victor Keith Fitzgerald for allegedly raping and sexually molesting children in Olongapo was drawing near last week I checked up on him and found him gone.
Judge Eliodor G. Ubiadas who has recently sent a convicted child abuser to life in jail would not have been pleased. No one knew where Fitzgerald was, his yacht I learned was still in Sorsogon. However I went to Undersecretary Liwag and he called BOI investigating and intelligence officers Rodel Siapian and Ponciano M. Ortiz and within two days they had found him.
The decision of Undersecretary Liwag to cancel the practice of "voluntary deportation" is the most welcome move yet. Reflections is on record of calling for the abolition of this graft ridden practice. Imagine a foreign criminal can commit a heinous crime, trafficking in drugs, sex abuse of Filipino children for example and when caught can say " Well OK, you caught me lets talk a deal. Lets hurry because I have to voluntary deport myself, that the rule!"
The physically battering and sexual abuse of children is either on the increase or the courage of parents and neighbors to report what they know is. Certainly the awareness of the responsible press as to the enormity of the unspeakable crimes to children is growing as their more frequent reporting shows. But more and more are coming to light.
A quick sampling of child abuse cases as reported by the press from around the country:
- Last month an appliance technician in Sta. Anna, Manila
was arrested for raping and sexually molesting his four daughters infecting
one with gonorrhea.
- A police chief in Misamis Occidental is facing charges
for sexually abusing a 15 year old child of a prominent family,
- A child of 6 years old was abducted raped and killed
by six unknown men in Tondo a few months ago and her body dumped in a garbage
pit.
- In Olongapo a 44 year old man was given life imprisonment
by Judge Eliodor G. Ubiades for raping and killing a 11 year old child.
A senior prosecutor in Olongapo has also been charged with the sexual abuse
of a minor.
- A judge in Naga city is being accused of the sexual abuse
of a 15 year old child.
- Another 15 year old, Shirley Victore, a high-school student
from La Union was raped, battered and killed and her body left hanging
in a tree by a gang of rapists. The list goes on.
The most significant indication that this country is changing for the better and that there are significant changes in government policy towards alleged child sex criminals is that one has been arraigned and sent to trial and another is in jail in Olongapo. The common practice of many an erring fiscal is to take the easy way out and dismiss charges against alleged paedophiles.
In Olongapo a French former military man who allegedly abused his own child and served time for it, is in the Olongapo City Jail. Charlie Lutun, came to Olongapo, "married" a former bar girl and paid a taxi driver to pimp boys for him.
He sexually abused a small 9 year old and then a 10 year old who he managed to get to live with him by persuading the boy's mother that he wanted to adopt the child and leave him an inheritance.
His Filipina wife testified in a sworn statement that she saw him abusing the ten year old, the two children have also made sworn statements about what Lutun allegedly did to them. If true, it was an ordeal of brutality and sexual perversion - an unspeakable crime.
Despite this the fiscal saw fit to summarily dismiss the charges but Olongapo City Fiscal Prudencio B. Jalandoni wisely thought better of it and wrote,..."the respondent is still committing the offense charged .." and he ordered the case be filed in court.
The hearing is set for October 18. Reflections will tell you the outcome, stay tuned.
