Justice in Olongapo (Parts 1 and 2)
Published in the Foreign Post
March 9 - 15, 2000
Justice in 0longapo (1)
Sir,
In reply to the letter of Harry E. Joost (Foreign Post, February 24 -March 1),
neither myself nor the staff of the PREDA Foundation use the name Joaquin "Joke"
Madarang as Mr. Joost suggests.
However the letter of Harry Joost reveals his character through the malicious glee he takes in repeating the dismissed complaints that his group of pedophile supporters made against us at the PREDA Center for our efforts to defend the rights of abused children and to bring him and his gang to justice.
The malicious techniques used to intimidate us and damage our reputation, or that of anyone who opposes their operations, is to file complaint after complaint and then repeat it: that we have been "charged" for crimes.
This group of people who support convicted pedophile Victor Fitzgerald made 25 baseless and false complaints against us, and others against government officials. Based on manufactured "evidence," almost all have been thrown out as baseless, and harassment.
The others are still in the process and will surely be dismissed as the group claims we pressured the children to give false testimony against Fitzgerald.
The court of appeals has said that this is absurd. Yet Joost, the mastermind behind the pedophile support group for Fitzgerald, is still trying to get anyone he can to pressure the Court of Appeals to reverse its decision upholding the conviction of Fitzgerald.
This group has allegedly manipulated and misled the good bishop of lba, and some priests in Zambales, by misrepresentation of the facts, to unwillingly to sign a statement of support of Fitzgerald - Thus putting them in an embarrassing position not of their own direct making.
The authorities have to act against these foreigners who are doing grave damage to the church, and our work of helping the victims to the office of the Solicitor General to file affidavits of desistance, thus in effect making them perjure themselves.
The witnesses are under the control and influence of bar operators like himself in the red light districts of Olongapo and Subic. One of these bars where one of the witnesses is "employed," was recently raided.
The Court of appeals said, in regards to the claim of the Fitzgerald support group led by Joost:
"The claim of the appellant was investigated by Father Cullen is absurd. No woman, especially one who is of tender age, could concoct a story that she was violated, allow examination of her private parts and thereafter expose herself to humiliation by being subjected to a public trial, if she is not motivated solely by the desire to vindicate her honor and to have the culprit apprehended and punished."
"With respect to the alleged recantation of complainant, the office of the Solicitor General correctly argues that:
The last minute attempt by petitioner to obtain exculpation based on the subsequent retraction by the witness should not be granted. Otherwise it will make a solemn trial a mockery and place the investigation of truth at the mercy of unscrupulous witnesses.
It is preposterous to disregard a testimony that has undergone trial simply because an affidavit withdrawing the testimony is subsequently presented by the defense. In the first place, any recantation must be tested in a public trial. In this case, the witnesses, Gloria Limpat and Jacqueline Purification, presented their retractions only on appeal after the decision has been rendered by the lower court.
'Moreover, it is highly probable or possible that such retractions were made for a consideration, usually monetary .'
"... In fact, the appellant may be convicted solely on the testimony of the complainant Gloria Limpat, which is credible, natural, convincing and otherwise consistent with human nature and the course of things.
While Mr. Joost of the bar industry of Olongapo writes to the Foreign Post trying to establish his none existing "credibility," attempting at the same time to undermine ours, we can only stand by the rule of law, 26 years of dedicated service to human rights and the decision of the court to establish the truth and give the lie to Joost, as clearly seen above.
Father Shay Cullen
with Alex Corpus Hermoso
and the staff
PREDA Children's Home
Olongapo
Justice in Olongapo (2)
Sir,
Just a short reply to Mr Joaquin Madaarang a.k.a. "Joke" --a very appropriate
name for him, Normally I tend to avoid giving recognition, and the use of copy
space, to misinformed "Big Spooners" like "Big Joke" (Foreign Post, January
20-16).
It is possible that he is an intelligent person seeking a sense of self, through cheap gimmicks such as betting his 13th month's pay against my acquittal and release, but low self-esteem is no excuse for ignorance.
I'm more than confident that with a little effort on his part to take the time to have an unbiased look at my plight, he would see the travisty of this sordid affair.
Well Mr. "Big Spoon", justice is an exclusive lady but I intend to find her - andf man, don't be kuripot, how about six months of your salary plus your 13th? And give me till the end of the year to find her. She is blind but I can assure you she is not dumb.
Come on mate, put your money where your pen is, because if you don't I afraid that the reading public, especially of this fine weekly, will be prone to think: What this bloke thinks and writes is akin to the excreta that passes out of the rear orifice of a bull.
Vic Fitzgerald
In purgatory
* Pending any new, definitive developments on this subject, this correspondence is now closed - the Editors.