Bernd Schütze
TO PRESIDENT JOSEPH ESTRADA
FROM PROFESSOR THE LORD ALTON OF LIVERPOOL
October 2nd 2000
Dear President Estrada,
I would like to draw your attention to disturbing reports that in last two years there has been constant legal harassment of Father Shay Cullen and his team at Preda Foundation by a group of people who are reportedly trying to cover up and defend paedophile activities.
I am informed that they are targeting Fr.. Cullen because of his courageous and effective work against the sexual exploitation of children and in helping to convict paedophiles. Fr. Cullen is highly regarded by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Street Children whom he has addresses on a number of occasions. A member of this group has even nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work for children. A British documentary about Fr. Cullen's work in the Philippines was televised some years ago, entitled, "Defender of the Children", so it is evident that Fr. Cullen's work has much international support and recognition. It is also not surprising that Fr. Cullen has also made many enemies in the course of his work as its very nature brings him into direct conflict with child molesters and paedophile rings.
In October 1997, a 7 year old child was founded by government social workers to have been abused by two 12 year old boys in her home in San Antonio, Zambales - an hour north of Olongapo City. It has been reported that they began the abuse after watching pornographic videos left around the house by the American stepfather of the child , who is said to be a former US air force employee. I understand that the boys who are alleged to have abused her are her half-brother and the house boy, son of the housekeeper. When the nanny and father ignored the 7 year old girl's complaints, she told her teachers about the abuse and they brought her to the police, where it was recorded.
I am told that the stepfather of the child admitted in a taped interview that he left the videos around, and he said the boys were only playing doctor and that he had scolded the house boy. He took no further action to help her. She was then in danger of further abuse and the authorities brought her to the Preda child Protective and Therapeutic center. I am informed that she told all there that the boys abused her and her this was videotaped in a child-friendly interview with the therapist.
Father Cullen alleges that it was reveals in taped interviews that the stepfather of the 7-year-old child was sleeping with the young sister of the house boy with the housekeeper's knowledge and permission. If such actions had taken place it would constitute a violation of the RA7610, the Filipino child protection act. Father Cullen states that the stepfather of the 7-year old child had transferred the house and property to the name of the housekeeper. He feared charges being brought against him and against the housekeeper for letting him sleep with her daughter. The house was apparently like a payoff for the housekeeper's co-operation.
The stepfather filed a Habeas Corpus with a judge who was apparently friendly to him and the child was transferred to a government center. There the child was given a complete psychological examination and a case evaluation report was made. Professional counseling with government social workers and an interview with the NBI (federal police) reportedly revealed the consistent accusation against the two boys that they had abused the little girl. I understand that there was not one word of complaint from the girl about her 28 days in the Preda Center. She made no accusation that she had been abused while there.
Charges were to be filed against the two boys accused of abusing the girl. The stepfather made another demand for the child to be returned to him. The judge in Olongapo City again complied and returned the child to the house of the stepfather. Then the stepfather apparently set out to deflect the accusations away from the boys and prevent charges being brought against him for allegedly abusing the then 14 year old daughter of his housekeeper to whom he gave his house. He reportedly blamed Father Cullen for the abuse and ran to the media to try and destroy his reputation.
The authorities filed charges of child abuse against the two boys but while the defendants had legal representation, the child apparently had no such legal assistance and was not even brought to the hearing. Not surprisingly the case against the boys was dismissed.
The Preda Foundation later filed child abuse charges against the boys and the case is still pending in the Department of Justice in Manila. The little girl's stepfather blamed Fr. Cullen for the abuse and claimed that she was abused whilst in protective custody at the Preda Foundation. Fr. Cullen believes that the stepfather teamed up with some others who have a grudge against him because of his work to protect children and conspired to bring false charges of child abuse against him. I understand that the single piece of so-called "evidence" against Father Shay is a shaky handwritten letter made by the then 7 year old girl under a lot of duress.
I respectfully urge the Philippine authorities to take the following action:
1. To do a thorough and objective review of the evidence against the two boys accused of sexually abusing the seven year old girl. If they are guilty of the crime and not stopped, they may well abuse other children and there is little chance of rehabilitating these boys unless the charges against them are properly examined.
2. To do a speedy and just review of the new evidence presented by the Preda Foundation which I am told shows that the accusations against Fr. Cullen and his Preda team are false and fabricated. All the false charges against Father Cullen and his Preda team should be immediately dropped.
3. Urgent protection and therapeutic help for the abused 7 year old girl. The Preda Foundation believes that this girl is in the clutches of her abusers so it is matter of extreme urgency that she be moved to a place of safety where she can receive therapeutic help.
Father Cullen's appeal for a review of the decision to send his case to court has been rejected by the Secretary of Justice. He is now going to appeal to you for your help. I you reject this appeal, Father Shay Cullen will go to jail for the duration of his trial. This would be a very serious blow to his work to protect children and discourage other groups involved in protecting and assisting children who have been sexually exploited.
For the sake of the many Filipino children who depend on Fr. Cullen's protection, I hope that your government will take effective action to protect him and the Preda team from these false charges and put an end to the campaign being orchestrated against them.
thank you for your attention, I look forward to hearing from you.
The Ambassador
Embassy of the Philippines
9A Palace Green
London W8 4QE
October 2nd 2000
Your Excellency,
I am extremely concerned by reports that the Secretary of Justice has just turned down Father Shay Cullen's appeal for a review of the decision to send his case to court. I recently wrote to you about the false charges of child abuse brought against Father Shay Cullen in an attempt to destroy his work protecting children in the Philippines from sexual exploitation.
I do hope that your government will be able to swiftly intervene in this case to have the charges against Father Cullen dropped otherwise he will have to go to jail for the duration of his trial as he's unlikely to be granted bail. Having to spend time in jail would be a very serious blow to Fr. Cullen's work for children and would discourage other groups involved in protecting and assisting children who have been sexually exploited.
Thank you for your attention, I look forward to hearing from you.
Professor the Lord Alton of Liverpool
via fax message, dated
October 02, 2000
