Thomas Hoyer for the staff of DRITTE-WELT partner
To the personal attention of
His Excellency Joseph Estrada
President of the Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace, Manila
Philippines
Fax: 0063-2-8323793 Ravensburg/Germany, September 28th 2000
Letter of appeal concerning Fr. Shay Cullen of PREDA Foundation
Dear Excellency President Estrada,
We are sure that you have heard about the ongoing terrible
campaign of allegations against the worldwide very highly respected Fr. Shay
Cullen of the PREDA Foundation in Olongapo City.
We as long-term partners of PREDA Foundation and its founder Fr. Shay Cullen are
very much concerned and frustrated about the filing of rape charge against Fr.
Shay Cullen ordered by the Department of Justice. For us it is very clear that
the accusations are the bad work of powerful people (maybe also local
politicians) and alliances of people who benefit directly or indirectly from the
sex tourism and trafficking in Olongapo City.
As Fr. Shay Cullen has been at the leading edge of the campaign against child abuse and trafficking in the Philippines and in many countries taking legal action to bring abusers of women and children to justice the number of opponents were increasing day by day. Also a lot of good public interest was attracted by the good and effective work of PREDA and Fr. Shay Cullen worldwide.
Since a special prosecutor was announced for Olongapo and working effectively in Olongapo for the rights of the children and since Fr. Shay Cullen brought several suspected pedophiles to court there was a very positive swing in and around Olongapo. A lot of people worldwide were thankful for the justice which was brought to many children by that way through the Philippine Department of Justice. But now the situation seems to be upside down. So we ask the question: Could it really be possible that without any powerful influence Fr. Shay suddenly is accused for rape and that the different steps of the Judiciary system do follow those totally weak accusations not proving the new evidence PREDA is able to present against the charge?
We sincerely trust in your integrity and your strong sense for justice. Therefore we kindly ask you to see into this bad campaign to make your own opinion. We hope that as consequence the charge against Fr. Cullen will be dismissed like all the other allegations made by that organised group in and around Olongapo City in the past.
We thank you in advance for your sincere consideration of our urgent appeal.
Thomas Hoyer for the staff of the dritte-welt partner,
Germany
an organisation involved in Fair Trade and Public Awareness
via e-mail and fax message, dated
September 28, 2000
