Support Letter From CONCORDIA, University College of Alberta
27 September, 2000
His Excellency Joseph Estrada
President
Republic of the Philippines
Malacañang Palace, Manila,
Philippines
Dear Mr. President:
Re: Father Shay Cullen and the PREDA Foundation
We are Filipino-Canadians who have had the unique opportunity of meeting Father Shay during his visit to Edmonton in May 2000 as the keynote speaker of the University of Alberta's International Peace Conference. We know of his work in defending the rights of children against sexual abuse and exploitation which he started many years ago. We know that despite national and international recognition of his and the PREDA staff's efforts to protect the rights of our Filipino children, Father Shay has also earned the ire of paedophiles and sex traders engaged in the business of child prostitution.
This latest act of harassment by his enemies, who have apparently successfully exerted their political influence on the decision by your Department of Justice to prosecute Father Shay on trumped-up charges, gravely concerns us.
We are seriously concerned the due process of law is not made available to Father Shay and PREDA, as demonstrated by the Justice Department's decision to file criminal charges based on questionable "evidence" and their refusal to grant him bail.
We are informed that the powerful leaders in Olongapo, including the Gordon family, are behind this most recent attack on Father Shay , and we strongly appeal to your Excellency to personally investigate this matter on order that Father Shay may clear his name against the false and malicious accusation hurled against him and allow him to continue with his work with PREDA.
We are gravely concerned about Father Shay's safety if he is imprisoned without bail during his trial, and hope that you could intervene on his behalf.
via fax message, dated
September 27, 2000
