Father Shay Finally Cleared
Published in the Philippine Daily
Inquirer
January 04, 2001
My sincere thanks to the INQUIRER for the clear and excellent report on the dismissal of the false charge of rape and my vindication in the Dec. 20 issue. This was a countercharge sprung back against me by the non-biological father of the child. He is a retired U.S. serviceman. He refused to bring charges against his own adopted son and the houseboy.
The child first accused the two boys over a period of eight months to the authorities. With the help of Filipino social workers, I was trying to bring them to justice and get them treatment. One of the teenagers had admitted to the authorities that he had abused the child. Despite this and other evidence, it was I whom he charged based on fabricated evidence.
The eight-page dismissal, clearing my name, reviewed all the evidence offered by the complainant against me and concluded that it was " bereft of any solid foundation". It pointed to the child's many statements accusing the two teenagers as the likely culprits. It noted the child had never accused me until eight months after she was back within the influence of the parents of the teenagers.
There is only one thing more painful and unjust than being falsely accused and framed with manufactured evidence, and that is to be convicted and wrongly punished. From this and from a court trial, I have been gratefully spared since no probable cause was found to bring the complaint to court.
The false rape charge was most serious and elaborately planned. According to an investigation by the Commission on Human Rights, three foreigners persuaded the child to write an incriminating letter accusing me of the crime. One is a German bar operator, whom we had charged and is on trial for obstruction of justice. The other is the retired US serviceman, the non-biological father of the child who is also the adoptive father of one of the teenagers accused by the child.
They brought the child, then 7 years old to the beach bar of the German to write the letter accusing me of the crime. An Australian clergyman, who is critical of our work, was there. According to the report, he helped the 7-year-old-child relax and encouraged her to write the incriminating letters. That was the evidence they used to accuse me. A child under duress made it under extraordinary circumstances, eight months after she complained that the two teenagers had abused her.
The foreigners and their backers, knew that such a horrific accusation alone would be enough to damage my credibility and could also be used to force us at the People's Recovery, Empowerment and Development Assistance (Preda) Foundation to withdraw our charges against them. The bar operator wrote to us suggesting such a deal. We refused. The child is still in their power and we are trying have the social welfare authorities in the Philippines take her into protective custody. The teenagers she accused need rehabilitation.
I am also very grateful that this work of the Preda defenders of children's rights and above all the plight of the children, has been recognized internationally. A member of the British House of Parliament has nominated us for the Nobel Peace Prize. Last December 10 we were honoured to receive the German Human Rights Award of the City of Weimar. The Italian City of Ferrara has also awarded us the Human Rights award for 2001.
From the beginning, Jaime Cardinal Sin, Archbishop of Manila, knows our work, stood by me. He said in a letter to the justice secretary, "His commitment to the welfare of children has been a source of immense inspiration and edification for so many in the Catholic Church. It is very unfortunate that such a charge has been levelled against him. I know he will be proven innocent in time."
The Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines, the Columban Fathers, Lord David Alton, many individuals, church and civic organizations around the world wrote statements and letters supporting us during this terrible ordeal. Their trust and solidarity with us has not been misplaced. All of us at the Preda Foundation send our grateful appreciation for their support.
Father Shay Cullen
Preda Foundation,
Upper Kalaklan,
Olongapo City
