AN IRISH Colomban priest in the Philippines remained perched on a power pole for the fourth day yesterday in protest at the installation of a high tension cable near a children's home.
"I have to stay here on this platform as a symbol of our determination to protect the children I will stay here until the National Power Corp will agree to remove this post," said Father Shay Cullen, who is urging the leaders of Asian Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) to back his protest.
The 53 year old Irish missionary priest climbed the 40ft pole in Olongapo, 50 miles from the capital Manila on Saturday to demand re routing of the cable. Father Cullen said the high tension cable would pass just above a rehabilitation centre he runs for victims of child prostitution and drug addiction and was likely to emit electromagnetic radiation harmful to the 26 children living there.
The priest's 4' by 5' platform on top of the pole has a cellular phone a tax machine and portable toilet.