Wednesday, August 22, 2007 Children rights advocates question police figures
CHILD RIGHTS advocates are questioning the figures presented by the PNP that say 62 percent of Cebu City’s crimes were committed by minors.
Lawyer Joan Amit of the Children’s Legal Bureau wants the police to present proof.
Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Chief Senior Supt. Patrocinio Commendador earlier said that CCPO’s crime statistics showed there were 600 cases involving minors, five of which were heinous.
During the 888 News Forum yesterday, Amit said that after reading Commendador’s report, she told her staff to get a copy of the statistics.
But her staff failed to get the document because the police officer her staff approached said he didn’t have it. Amit did not name the police officer.
Doctor Niña Antipala of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shared Awit’s sentiment.
Antipala said that if what Commendador said was true then DSWD should have known it because crimes involving minors are supposed to be referred to them.
“It could not have been that significant,” said Antipala.
At risk
Antipala and Amit also clarified that contrary to what others think, Republic Act 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 which takes care of children at risk and children in conflict with the law, does not give children below 15 years of age a free hand to do what they want even if it is illegal.
They said children in conflict with the law are to be held liable for their actions but they should not be jailed.
“Putting them behind bars is not the answer. Why? Because it’s a hellhole down there and by the time they are out, they will become hardened criminals,” said Antipala.
Tessie Fernandez of Lihok Pilipina believes that it is not the law which is problematic but those who implement it.
Fernandez said the implementation of the law caught everybody off-guard.
She said the police force has not yet read the law that’s why they don’t fully understand its provisions.
On the issue that crime syndicates use children because they have no criminal liability, the child rights advocates said it is the police’s job to run after the syndicates. They should not blame the law or the children who are victims themselves.
“Also, under the Revised Penal Code, even adults who were just used in committing a crime also have no criminal liability,” said Amit.
They said there are four factors to be considered why these minors commit crimes: family, community, peer and school.
Antipala said children who grew up “troubled” is likely to commit crimes.
“We have already sent millions of children to jail but what happened to them?
They come out worst, lesson learned,” said 888 news forum host Ricky Poca.
Poca also lambasted the government for giving a meager budget for children’s causes.
“Budget for children is low because they have no voice and because they cannot vote,” he said.
The advocates also clarified that repealing the law which took them 10 years to make is not an option, but they are willing to introduce amendments if necessary. (KNT)
