BY FR. SHAY CULLEN
IN 2022, there were 21 convictions won by the Preda children. So with an average rate of 18 convictions a year since 1996 when we opened the home for abused girls, that is 28 years ago and a stunning total of 504 convictions of child rapists and abusers and traffickers was achieved.
More than 1,000 children have been healed and empowered at the Preda home since 1996. Not all can file cases because of lack of detailed evidence or the abusers are dead or in hiding. About 120 abused and trafficked children are healed, empowered and educated at Preda every year.
Many of them have filed cases against their abusers and are suffering frustration and sometimes having tantrums because of the snail pace of prosecutors and courts to give them justice. There are police that are unable or unwilling to arrest the suspects or take favors not to do so, although the arrest warrants are on all their computers. The children can’t go home until they testify in court.
The record of 22 convictions in one year 2022 still stands and is a tribute to the good judges and prosecutors that do their duty with integrity and commitment. However, we need a special children’s court to deliver justice faster than three years for each case. The good judges reach a decision in a little more than one year. The slow judges allow so many delaying tactics by defense attorneys that unduly favor the accused.
Delays allow the defendant to persuade the parents of the child-victim to withdraw the case and settle out of court with payments. Some give dire threats to the family of the child victim. This has to stop. It is corrupt practice and a blight on the Philippines and betrayal of children.
Delay is a manipulation of a flawed system of justice that denies justice to child-victims. Preda wrote to the Supreme Court administrator about these long court delays and they are taking note of the tardy judges.
The tardy judges don’t realize that the child has to stay in the protective custody of Preda until she testifies. Then, having testified with self-confidence, the child can be reintegrated to her family and join the Preda aftercare support program to ensure continuation of her on-going education.
Twenty court convictions this year by Preda supported and empowered children alone is another convincing win and a powerful validation of the unique healing and empowerment therapy at the Preda home that has Emotional Release Therapy. Every child caring home can adopt it with their therapist trained for free by Preda therapists. They just have to contact Preda. This is part of a healing program to enable the victim to freely cry, shout, and scream out her anger, hurt and pain at her abuser. https://youtu.be/G0fFNmHSYic
The greatest evil of our time is violence against children, killing, bombing, murdering, trafficking and sexually abusing them. Child sexual abuse and assault is the most painful and shocking experience a child can endure.
That is why there is a rule of law, a justice system in human society to hold its members to account for their criminal action. We urgently need new legislation establishing a children’s court with more just and committed prosecutors and judges to deliver that justice without fear or favor. (preda.org)/PN
