What Tino Dimaano missed in story involving Shay Cullen
This article was published on "TODAY", a Filipino newspaper,
dated November 16, 1998
Your correspondent Tino Dimaano Jr. failed to consult the official record on the complaint filed by an American, Alan Dale Edmonds, making allegations that his adopted daughter was sexually abused while in the PREDA Center for abused children (TODAY, November 11). The seven-year old "Liza" (real name withheld) was sexually abused by the son of Edmonds' housekeeper, Purisima Payumo. By his own admission. Edmonds, a retired U.S. military man has an effeminate personality and said in a statement that Mrs. Payumo is like a mother to him.
In two sworn statements the 12-year-old child abuser (call him Roger) confessed he sexually abused Liza four times in the house of Edmonds in an isolated place in San Antonio, Zambales, starting June1998. On one occasion he did it after he and the half-brother of Liza (call him Oscar) watched a pornographic video left around by Edmonds. Roger and his sister Rosie, also a minor, are the children of Edmond's housekeeper who left them alone with Edmonds many times since 1993.
In a bizarre tale of abuse and neglect Edmonds took no action against Roger but left him to abuse Liza again, even after the Liza told Edmonds she was abused. Liza also told Roger's mother, the housekeeper, about the abuse, but the housekeeper, did nothing either. In desperation, the child told the her teachers in October 1997, and they reported it to San Antonio police.
The child was given medico-legal examination that showed signs of abuse, but no one went to the hospital to get the results. the policeman and a government social worker visited Edmonds, and he told them that Roger was sent to his father in Baretto, Olongapo, so there was no problem anymore. They accepted this and no further action was taken. Then in January 1998 this situation was reported to the National Bureau of Investigation. A government social worker and a PREDA social worker took Liza into protective custody and placed her at the PREDA Center where a professional staff can testify that she was in their care 24 hours a day.
Liza revealed to a social worker that Roger and her half-brother Oscar had abused her. It was revealed in interviews given by Edmonds and the Payumo children (tape recorded with permission) that Mr.. Edmonds had a crush on Rosie since she went to live with him at 12 years old. the statements claim that Mrs. Payumo wanted Rosie to marry Edmonds but Rosie doesn't want to.
Rosie said Edmonds take her into his room and embraces her, and sleeps beside her in his bed. they watched pornographic videos together and he gives her gifts and pays her tuition. All violations of the Child Protection Act. Most of this Roger confirmed in his interview.
Edmonds got Liza out of the child care center by filing two habeas corpus cases. Edmonds lawyer represented both Roger, the abuser and Liza, the victim. There was no chance for justice for the child. They got away with it and are retaliating against us who will charge Roger.
Roger who got away scot-free from multiple acts of rape, is charge with the rape of a 13-year-old child in Baretto, Olongapo.
It is these facts that your correspondent and Remedios Valerio, the investigator for the commission on Human Rights, should have investigated.
