Preda calls for a deeper investigation of the paedophile
syndicate in Puerto Galera, 05 April 2004
Undersecretary Lourdes Balanon
Department of Social Welfare and Development
Constitution Hills, Batasan Complex
Diliman
Dear Undersecretary Lourdes Balanon,
Thank you for your faxed letter of March 29, 2004. Preda, together with other non-government organizations, is carefully monitoring the situation in Puerto Galera. We have offered our professional service to give therapeutic help and legal assistance to the victims. The DSWD is welcome to avail of these services at our own expense. Besides the eight and nine-year olds trained to give sexual services to the foreign sex tourists, other children have been "given" or "adopted" by the paedophiles and some lived with them.
In accordance with the Anti-Trafficking Law, the Special Child Protection Law, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the international protocol to act in th best interest of the child, we in the NGO community and the public are expecting with great anticipation the rescue of all the child victims, the prosecution of the pimps and negligent parents. A deeper investigation into the international paedophile ring and pornography syndicate that is clearly operating in Puerto Galera is essential if we are to combat the abuse. I am enclosing a report on the situation as we know it.
We are awaiting any further information that the children have been rescued and hope the help we are offering and that of other NGOs will be availed of to help the children.
Sincerely,
Fr. Shay Cullen, mssc
Executive Director
