BY SHAYCULLEN
AT THAT TIME, it was martial law in the Philippines and the dictator President Ferdinand Marcos had closed or taken over all independent newspapers and radio and TV media outlets but one small tabloid, We Forum, headed by a brave writer and publisher Jose Burgos. He continued reporting human rights stories. He took the risk to publish my report with one of my photos of three of the children with their eyes covered to protect them.
That humanitarian report was picked up by the local and international media. Instead of being lauded for exposing the terrible crimes against children and the Filipino people and ultimately saving many more children from abuse, I was berated by the city administration authorities and made a persona non-grata. I was vilified in public and denounced for damaging the reputation of the city.
The leaders of various civic and church organizations signed petitions for my deportation and I was put on trial in the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation in Manila. It was all to scare me to stay silent or leave. I received death threats and harassment for many months while the trial continued.
A court case was filed before a military tribunal in Guam against a suspected pedophile, US officer Daniel Dougherty, for abusing the youngest of the children. Eventually he was found guilty but given a very mild punishment, a dishonorable discharge and loss of benefits.
The Olongapo government threatened to close the Preda home for youth and take it over. A journalist asked me what I will do if the Preda home is closed. I replied, getting an idea on the spot, “It is better if they close the US military bases and convert them to economic zones, not close the children’s home”.
“Fr. Shay is that your new campaign now?” he asked.
I thought about that and replied, “Yes it’s a very good idea, and I will start a campaign to make it happen.”
Then I began to write about it in my weekly column on the editorial page of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. I called it, ‘Life after the Bases Campaign.’ Having researched military bases conversion projects in the United States, I had ideas to propose.
The city administration of Olongapo denied all child abuse allegations and boohooed the suggestion I made to close and convert the bases. Mr. Conrad Tiu, a brave local businessman, came out and supported the idea and added the brilliant idea of a freeport. The base conversion campaign caught on and the rest is history.
With help from friends, supporters and Atty. Sergio Cruz from Olongapo City to his eternal credit, I won my case against deportation. I remained in the Philippines to serve the poor until the present and started a Preda Foundation therapeutic healing home for abused and trafficked girl-children which is operating to this day. Professional highly trained Preda staff care and heals as many as 50 child-victims.
We fight court battles with dedicated honest prosecutors and the child victims win many cases. Other Preda homes for children in conflict with the law still help many youth. (preda.org)/PN
