Tuesday, November 14, 2006 Editorial: Duterte on Juvenile Law
DAVAO City Mayor Rody Duterte calls the Juvenile Law "stupid." He wants Congress to amend the provision, which states that those who are 15 years old and under do not have criminal liability.
Evidently, Duterte believes this provision will only lead to more problems involving the youth who are in this age bracket. What's to stop them from committing crimes knowing that the law will go soft on them because of their age? This provision serves as an encouragement, rather than a deterrent, for the commission of crimes by the 15-and-under youth.
The mayor is preparing a position paper for submission to Congress through Majority Floor Leader Prospero Nograles. The paper will contain the opinions and observations of judges in the region who believe that the controversial law, authored by Senator Francisco "Kiko" Pangilinan, needs certain amendments.
It is a wonder how Senator Pangilinan could have concluded that those who are 15 years old or under are too young to realize the gravity of the crimes they commit, especially heinous ones, hence do not deserve to be treated as adult criminals.
In Davao City, many juvenile offenders who engage in gang wars are in this "special" (Pangilinan's Law) age bracket. There have been deaths and injuries brought about by mayhem in the city streets and the City Government has had its hands full in trying to put a stop to this anarchy by young hoodlums.
The Juvenile Law ought to be amended to make it relevant to the times and to the reality of the situation in society. If Mayor Duterte says it is a stupid law, the former government prosecutor must know whereof he speaks.
