‘Prison may have failed to stop biz’
The chief of the Cagayan de Oro City Jail in Lumbia yesterday admitted that Australian Peter Gerard Scully, who is accused of pedophilia, may have been in contact with Liezyl Margallo even while in detention in the facility, fueling speculations that they might have continued their business of selling child pornography videos online even after Scully’s arrest in 2015.
City Jail Warden Supt. Ferdinand Pontillo said they will cooperate with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in examining Scully’s communication with the outside world, including Scully’s contact with Margallo who was arrested last Wednesday by the NBI in Malapascua Island, Cebu.
“Though statements of the NBI regarding Scully’s continuous cybercrime activity dwells on speculations and possibilities, we will coordinate with them to investigate the allegations. Through their forensic capability, we hope that this could be probed,” Pontillo said.
Scully and Margallo, who fled before charges could be filed against her in 2015, are both facing over 60 cases, ranging from qualified trafficking in persons, child abuse, indecent shows, obscene exhibitions and publications, syndicated child pornography, child pornography, photo and video voyeurism and rape.
Margallo was committed to the city jail yesterday after she was brought here by NBI agents Friday.
Pontillo said Scully may have gotten his hands a mobile phone or phones, which he may have used to contact Margallo, through visitors.
“With hundreds of visitors coming in daily and hundreds of kilos of goods being brought inside and with out two or three personnel manually searching, we cannot assure a perfect prevention,” Pontillo said.
Pontillo said Scully had been caught in possession of a mobile phone four times, resulting to the curtailment of his visitation and recreational privileges.
Pontillo said mobile phones are prohibited inside the city jail, but Scully may have gained access to mobile phones from visitors.
He said Scully has three lawyers and 10 legal aides visiting him, among others.
Pontillo said the law office facilitates in bringing basic provision for their client and collects payment for their legal services online.
“With regards to speculation of him (Scully) having constantly communicated outside, it could be through the law office handling his case as part of their assistance and services,” Pontillo said.
But Pontillo clarified that if Scully, together with Margallo, had been able to continue his illegal activities while inside the jail, this could not have been done with their knowledge.
“Torturing and raping children to cater to his pedophile clients around the world through the internet, his acts, if proven true, could be the best argument to resume death penalty in this country,” Pontillo said.
The jail warden also maintained that Scully has not been receiving special treatment in spite of his constant demand for VIP treatment.
The jail official said he had denied Scully’s use of the gym for security reasons.
Pontillo said Scully’s sister had even filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman, protesting Scully’s condition of not having enough space to sleep in, not having enough food, no access to communication, and no time for exercise.