BY SHAY CULLEN
(Continued from Oct. 28, 2021)
AFTER two years of hearings marked by frequent delays and postponements, the DepEd gave Corskie San Jose a six-month suspension only. He is back teaching at present. Recently, DepEd Olongapo City denied his attempt for a promotion.
The criminal cases against Corskie San Jose progressed in the Regional Trial Court and he was convicted in 2019 for the crime and sentenced to a minimum eight years in one case and a minimum of twelve years in the other. He was also ordered to pay the victims moral and exemplary damages. However, he is out on bail. He appealed to the Court of Appeals and that is still pending in the notoriously slow and seemingly inactive Court of Appeals. It is two years on appeal and not yet decided. What takes about two hours takes two years. What are they waiting for?
The notoriously slow, ponderous pace of decision making in the Court of Appeals potentially allows convicted paedophiles like Corskie San Jose to remain out of jail on bail. The court must realize that convicted pedophiles on bail can continue to abuse and possibly commit more crimes against children. We must complain to the Supreme Court the lack of action to decide these shocking heinous crimes against children pending in the Court of Appeals. It appears that the justices just don’t care and are waiting for something else.
The greatest enemy of children is the indifference and passive support by the public for pedophiles and pimps that prey on children and sexually abuse them. They give consent to child abuse by their silence, apathy and indifference. These people are accessories and enablers of crimes against children. They wrongly believe it is not their business to report or interfere but it is the urgent business of everybody.
Schools and church institutions’ first reaction is to cover up the crime. The church in many dioceses keeps abuse secret and reassign abusive clerics. Concern for the victims is far from their feelings and thoughts.
The reputation of the institution comes first for the irresponsible clerics and teachers, not the protection of the child victims or the implementation of law so justice will be enforced and abuse will be challenged and punished. It was only when Mr. Francis Bermido, president of the Preda Foundation, reported the cases that there was media attention. The child abuse of students is just the tip of the iceberg, hidden beneath the waters of cold apathy.
Institutional leaders, bishops, priests, teachers, the public, judges, prosecutors and police must be challenged for having negative attitudes towards child-victims. There has to be deeper concern, respect for the children and the law, swift action to protect and bring the perpetrators to justice. Anything less is a mockery of law and human rights and the nation ceases to be a respected civilized country. (preda.org)/PN
