Lawmaker supports Juvenile law amendment

Thursday, April 14, 2011

SENATOR Francis Escudero is supporting the call to amend the juvenile justice law and proposes a suspension of its implementation pending the amendment.

His statement came in reaction to the dropping of charges against minors involved in the Agusan del Sur hostage-taking.

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"There is a need for a strong intervention program for children in conflict with the law and it is high-time we discuss the existing legislation," Escudero said, adding that he supports the call to revisit and amend the juvenile justice law.

The juvenile justice law has been criticized by many, including Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya and some police officials.

As it is, Police Senior Insp. Romulo Paza, station commander of Bulua Police Station, said children 18 years old and below are absolved from criminal liability without a corresponding program to ensure that these offenders are held accountable for their acts.

“Personally, I’m not favor of this law,” Paza told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro, citing that most of the crimes in the city are committed by minors whose parents are even tolerating the wrongdoing of their children.

Paza added children are confident that they will not be sent to prison and that if apprehended, they will eventually be released to their parents or turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Escudero said authorities can be charged with both administrative and criminal if juvenile delinquents are detained along with hardened criminals.

He also said that among the requirements of the law is the availability of diversion facilities in the municipalities and cities.

For his part, Nacaya, chair of the City Council committee on police, fire and public safety who earlier support the amendment of the juvenile justice law, said criminals are now using children to commit crimes to escape prosecution.

He said children involved in crimes become more emboldened because they are neither arrested nor taken in custody.