The struggle to find justice

By FR. SHAY CULLEN

OLONGAPO CITY — The most shocking and outrageous case of child rape in need of help is a 13 year old victim of gang rape. It happened in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery, Orion, Bataan by a gang of ten teenagers, minors who should be in rehabilitation but are roaming free to this day. The child is traumatized and in shock after the ordeal and scarred for life. She will get all the therapy, protection and legal assistance she needs at the Preda home for girls. The abusers even videotaped the multiple crime on a mobile phone and immediately distributed it far and wide by the cell phone using blue tooth technology boasting of their exploits. Its damming evidence.

Thousands of children are victimized every day and yet few abusers are convicted. Local official frequently arrange a pay off. The sex tourists enjoy protection and impunity from prosecution and we the defenders are the ones prosecuted, we appeal to readers to write to the Philippine Embassy or Department of Justice, Padre Faura, Manila to have the fake charges of libel, made by an American suspect against our social workers, dropped.

Take the ongoing case in Zambales of an American who is accused of raping his four (4) year old daughter whom he has now abandoned. Despite the account of the little girl, the testimony of the mother and the medico legal report confirming severe abuse and the filing of the criminal charges the abuser has not been called to a preliminary investigation.

Instead of filing a counter affidavit followed by a swift preliminary investigation the accused filed a motion to have another medico legal examination by the NBI, and requested that the child be taken from the mother and given to the Social Services. The accused has filed a counter charge against the mother.

Around the campus of the University of the Philippines posters declare “Justice delayed is justice denied”. The student body is supporting the family of a young student Cris Anthony Mendez who was allegedly murdered during a fraternity hazing ritual as he was being inducted into the Sigma Rho Fraternity. The fraternities, have mostly good people, many are members of the elite of Philippine society. Most help each other prosper and serve society to the best of their ability.

Some members can corrupt a good fraternity and can turn a section of it into a cult and use hazing and fear as a way to instill obedience, secrecy and have control over new members.

The family of public administration student Cris Anthony Mendez have little chance of justice. The family fears that powerful persons behind the scenes will work to block an indictment or a public trial if ever a member of the fraternity is charged.

The call of University Vice President Attorney Marvic Leonen for witnesses to come forward. No fraternity has been openly accused but the officials of Sigma Rho were placed on preventive suspension after the death of Cris Mendez.

As former Justice Secretary-designated Simeon A. Datumanong said, The Sigma Rho Fraternity “…has distinguished members who have proven themselves worthy of public service. We have, or the Sigma Rho Fraternity has, former Senate President Salonga, former Senate President Angara, the late Senate President Fernan and now Senate President Drilon”. Former Senate President Jovito R. Salonga resigned as a member of the UP Sigma Rho a few weeks ago when the scandal broke.

We know from hard experience that successful prosecution is a hard road to travel. We hope the new acting secretary of justice will reform the system. Despite powerful evidence charges of child sex abuse are too frequently dismissed or prosecutor make no resolution for years.

We at the Preda Children’s Home, have many pending cases of abused children who are seeking healing through justice. Many of the accused are still out there perhaps abusing other children so we are going to hire our own female lawyer and a paralegal officer. Is there a lawyer or paralegal ready to serve the children, it’s a well paid job and what better work is there than helping children, the most vulnerable of all. Interested applicants can contact the Preda Center, Olongapo City (09178362274) END

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Contact Fr. Shay Cullen at the Preda Center, Upper Kalaklan, Olongapo City, Philippines.
e-mail: preda@info.com.ph
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PREDA Information Office
PREDA Foundation, Inc.
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www.preda.org