Support Letter for Fr. Shay Cullen from Different Organization
Representatives
28 September 2000
HIS EXCELLENCY JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA
President Government of the Republic of the Philippines
Dear President Estrada,
We, the undersigned, would like to express our deepest concern regarding the rape charge filed against Father Shay Cullen of the PREDA Center and urge that the case be treated with the utmost attention and sensitivity while keeping at the center of the analysis the best interest of children.
We are informed that the rape charge pertains to the same charge of rape of a seven year old girl already dismissed by the investigating prosecutor nominated by the Department of Justice.
We are worried about the strong possibility that this old case is being brought up as harassment to obstruct the work of PREDA Center in seeking justice for children abused and exploited by pedophiles.
A number of elements related to this specific situation and past experience of similar cases lead us to worry about the possibility that this is but part of an elaborate attempt to discredit Fr. Shay and PREDA Center, orchestrated by a pedophile support group in Olongapo City whose members PREDA has helped bring to justice.
We are alarmed that just as the pedophile support group may have successfully lobbied for the revival of the false charges against Fr. Shay, they are now vigorously campaigning for the re-trial of convicted Australian child abuser, Victor Keith Fitzgerald.
We are deeply concerned that this case points to the increasing vulnerability of defenders of children's rights to attacks and counter-charges of child abuse from the highly profitable and organized network of child sex offenders.
We are highlighting that these are happening at a time when the Philippine government has just signed the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography during the UN Millennium Summit in New York.
However, we recognized the Philippine government's commitment in fostering an environment conducive to the survival development, protection and participation of Filipino children in partnership with the children's rights community.
We trust that the Philippine government will continue to uphold its commitment and take immediate action to bring child sex offenders to justice.
We, therefore, urge the Philippine government to take the following actions:
1. To do a speedy and just review of the new evidence
presented by PREDA Foundation keeping in consideration of the UN Convention on
the Rights of the Child and the right to protection
2. To do a thorough and objective review of the evidence against the two boys
accused of sexually abusing the seven year old girl so that they may receive
appropriate rehabilitation services;
3. To protect the abused seven year old from her abusers and to provide her
appropriate psychological and rehabilitative care.
4. To treat this whole case in consideration of the best interest of the child
as enlightened in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
We, the undersigned, have known Fr. Shay for many years as a tireless and courageous defender of children's rights, with unblemished 30 year record of service to the diocese of Iba, Zambales. Together with his team at PREDA Center, Fr. Shay has for many years been fighting to end child sexual exploitation and campaigning against the sex Mafia in Olongapo City. For their effective work, they received the 2000 German Human Rights Award from the City of Weimar (Germany) and a Nobel Peace Prize Nomination from British Parliamentarians for 2001.
We express our solidarity and support for Fr. Shay in what must be a time of anxiety and wish him and his PREDA team strength as they fight this latest legal battle. They deserve the support of Filipinos and people around the world who value and uphold the rights of children and young people.
We thank you for your attention and with confidence and trust in the impartiality of the Philippines judicial system, we look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
via fax message, dated
September 28, 2000
