Monday, October 01, 2007 114 juvenile offenders released
THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered the release of 114 children-in-conflict-with-the-law (CICL) in compliance with the latest directive of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for prison authorities to free all juvenile offenders still languishing in jails.
According to a report by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno, data gathered for the month of June show that 22 CICL were released on recognizance after finding out that they were charged with petty crimes; 31 based on provisions of Republic Act (RA) 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act; 23 after it was found that they have already served their sentence; 21 after their cases were dismissed; and three after posting bail.
The BJMP said 14 other CICL were transferred to the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other institutions taking care of juvenile offenders, such as the Center for Restorative Activities Development and Learning Experience (Cradle) at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.
None was transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Corrections or placed on preventive imprisonment in compliance with the provisions of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, according to the BJMP report.
The BJMP supervises all city and municipal jails nationwide while the Bureau of Corrections of the Department of Justice has control of the National Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City along with all provincial jails nationwide.
As of June, a total of 551 CICL are still detained in various facilities nationwide pending the processing of their release papers, BJMP data show.
Of the CICL released, 30 were from jail facilities in Metro Manila; one from Cagayan Valley; 16 from Central Luzon; five from Southern Luzon; two from Western Visayas; 29 from Eastern Visayas; four from the Zamboanga region; 14 from Northern Mindanao; seven from the Davao region; three from Central Mindanao; two from the Caraga region; and one from the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Puno ordered jail wardens as early as June last year to submit inventories of cases involving CICL to the DILG regional offices in line with fresh Malacañang efforts to speed up the release of these minors from detention as mandated by the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.
He also directed BJMP officials to stop accepting CICL in district, municipal and city jails nationwide.
The DILG, as a member of the Juvenile Justice Welfare Council (JJWC) created under RA 9344, has been tasked to assist in the inventory of CICL in provincial jails and PNP detention cells.”
Signed into law by President Arroyo in April last year, RA 9344 mandates the immediate release of CICL from detention, but requires them to undergo diversion programs like counseling, capacity building, training and socio-civic work under DSWD supervision.
Puno is a principal proponent of the “restorative justice” approach that seeks to enable inmates, most especially those who are neither hardcore criminals nor recidivists, to lead productive lives even behind bars, and to clear the way to their swift rehabilitation and reintegration into mainstream society following their release from jail.
Under RA 9344, children below the age of criminal responsibility or those 15 years old or below are to be immediately released to the custody of his or her parents, guardians or nearest relatives.
The releasing authority should also notify the local DSWD officer, who will then determine the appropriate programs for him or her in consultation with the child and the person who has custody over the CICL, Puno explained.
Offenders who are between the ages of 15 years and one day and 18 years can be criminally charged only if they are found committed the crime with discernment, he said.
All CICL who are detained in city and municipal jails and other penal institutions shall be released and turned over to the DSWD, Puno added. (Press release)
