A WOMEN'S group is pushing law enforcement authorities to speedily probe the online activities of accused Australian pedophile Peter Gerard Scully, whether Scully had allowed other individuals to access his social media and e-mail accounts to sell pornography even as he languished in jail.
Rhodora Bolusan, secretary general of Gabriela-Northern Mindanao, said they suspect Liezyl Margallo, Scully’s 23-year-old girlfriend and co-accused, who was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Wednesday, January 25 in Malapascua Island, Cebu, had access to Scully’s cache of online pornographic videos.
"Wala nato na gi-close nga possibility nga bisan nadakpan na si Scully nag stop na siya. Posible nagpadayon na sa iyang mga sumusunod ug gadawat lang dayon siya sa kwarta, (We are not ruling out the possibility that when Scully was arrested, he stopped. It is possible his cohorts continued and he only receives money,) " Bolusan said.
Bolusan said they believe Scully had other cohorts, aside from Margallo, who may have sold pornography involving children to pedophiles abroad.
"Dako gyud ang possibility nga naa gyud siyay nabinlan siguro usa si Margallo ug uban pa nga naay access sa iyang accounts ug mga videos," Bolusan said.
Margallo was transferred to the Cagayan de Oro City jail Monday, January 30, after spending the weekend at the NBI-Northern Mindanao detention facility.
She, who avoided being photographed by media by sitting in a covered corner of the cell, was with her mother and sister.
Margallo’s family refused to answer questions and said they have yet to secure legal counsel.
Margallo, who fled before charges could be filed against her in 2015, is facing, along with Scully, over 60 cases ranging from qualified trafficking in persons, child abuse, indecent shows, obscene exhibitions & publications, syndicated child pornography, child pornography, photo and video voyeurism and rape.
Following news of her arrest, Margallo has become the subject of bashing by netizens, with many calling for the revival of capital punishment for Margallo and her Australian boyfriend.
But Bolusan said the public should stop bashing Margallo in social media as this would not help in ensuring justice for the victims.
"Dili pud maayo ang cyber bullying kay naa ta law ana pero usahay murag expression na lang sa mga netizens nga mapagawas nila ilang gibati. Kung nakasala, suportahan na lang nato diha sa dagan sa kaso," Bolusan said.
Bolusan, who said she is against the death penalty, also said even capital punishment would not diminish the agony felt by the victims' families.
She said the two accused, if found guilty, should instead pay for their crimes by spending the rest of their lives inside the jail.
"Kung death row pagpatay na humana, samtang kung serbisyohan nila sa tibuok nilang kinabuhi ilang nahimong sala sa balaod ug sa mga batang babayeng biktima, mas makita sa mga pamilya ang pag-antos sa mga akusado," Bolusan said.
"Bisan babaye si Margallo, kinahanglan niyang bayran iyang nahimong sala sa parehong babaye nga mga bata pa," Bolusan added.
