Sharing another story of resilience, hope, and restoration: With the support of PRESO Inc., Gerard (not his real name) was granted bail while awaiting the disposition of his case. He is now employed at a junk shop in Manila, working hard to lead a productive life and rise from the darkest moment he has faced.
Gerard works hard in a Manila junk shop, hoping for a better future. He stays away from relatives, focusing on changing himself and finding comfort in the journey of "pagbabagong buhay". Despite his hardworking and positive appearance, he carries the pain of a past love in his heart. Gerard's life took a drastic turn when he discovered his wife's infidelity with another man right in their own home. Overwhelmed with confusion and outrage, he lost control and ended up facing charges of frustrated murder after inflicting severe harm on those involved.
This incident occurred while Gerard and his wife were staying in Manila with their children, preparing for her to work abroad as a domestic helper. Gerard, a former tricycle driver in Aklan, had saved every penny to support his wife's dream. His fellow tricycle drivers can attest that he was a hardworking and responsible husband and father. He was never a troublemaker in their community. In August 2022, Gerard was arrested and later jailed in December 2022. To make matters worse, his wife's family kept his two children away from him, painting him as a bad father. Despite these false accusations, Gerard remains determined to prove the purity of his heart and his inherent goodness.
Throughout this challenging time, Gerard has found support from PRESO Inc. Recognizing his trustworthiness, PRESO Inc. deemed him eligible for their Community Bail Bond Program after a thorough assessment.
In February 2023, Gerard was granted bail, allowing him temporary freedom. PRESO Inc.'s Community Bail Bond program aims to ease jail congestion and alleviate the strain on government funds. It seeks to grant freedom to deserving individuals who are first-time offenders, low-risk individuals, and facing financial challenges, all while demonstrating a sincere commitment to positive change.
Currently, Gerard’s case is under provisional dismissal due to the lack of witnesses against him.
His brief incarceration, made possible by PRESO Inc., taught him humility and the peace of accepting the past. Becoming an assistant to the jail's vice-mayor, he found productivity and through regularly attending Bible readings, he deepened his faith. Despite his wife's attempts at reconciliation, Gerard remains steadfast. Though he has forgiven her, the profound betrayal hinders true reconciliation. When asked about his plans, Gerard's focus is reclaiming his children. However, he asserts that he will triumph through hard work. Planning to establish a junk shop in Aklan, he aims for a better life with his children. Through humility and meaningful transformation, he will seek revenge – no violence, just a determined pursuit of a brighter future.
If you wish to help Gerard build his new life and livelihood, please reach-out to PRESO Inc. at https://www.presocbb.org/support-us or visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PresoInc?mibextid=ZbWKwLPRES.
Comments