A never-ending wait for justice in Philippine jail FEATURE 04/15/2010

A never-ending wait for justice in Philippine jail

FEATURE 04/15/2010 MANILA — Jerry Ballento entered the brutal Philippine prison system when he was just 17 after being accused of robbery and homicide. Eight years later, he is wasting away at the infamous Manila City Jail, as his seemingly endless trial continues. “It does not matter anymore. I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time, and I am paying for it,” Ballento said as he fought for space to take an afternoon nap on the grimy floor of cell block number five. “I have long given up hope of ever walking free.” Ballento said that counting against him is the fact that he cannot afford a full-time lawyer and that his family appears to have deserted him — including an uncle who is a police general.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100415com3.html

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