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Sunday, July 29, 2007
More minors in crime activities with Juvenile Act in effect
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Instead of curbing the involvement of minors in crimes, the Juvenile Welfare Act seems to have encouraged young criminals to commit more crimes since they are now being "protected" by the law.
Statistics from the Southern Mindanao Police Regional Office showed a dramatic increase in cases of “children in conflict with the law” (CICL) this year.
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Southern Mindanao Police Regional Director Andres Caro said from 2004 to 2006, they have recorded an average of 500 cases involving CICLs in the entire region.
This year though they have already recorded 866 cases of CICLs for the first semester alone. Republic Act 9344, Juvenile Welfare Act, was implemented in November 2006.
Though not squarely putting the blame on the law that was strongly criticized by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Caro said they see the problem on the implementation of the intervention programs, as mandated by the law, as one of the factors that resulted to the increase of CICL.
Intervention programs would mean the creation of a facility that would help in the rehabilitation of the CICLs.
Caro said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Southern Mindanao does not have enough facilities that could cater to the growing number of young criminals.
Even the social workers, he said, are not capable of ascertaining whether the CICL have acted with discernment or not when committing the crime.
"Pag nadakip ng pulis yung mga bata, tini-turn over sa DSWD who later, in turn, turn-over the CICL sa kanilang mga parents even without the proper rehabilitation dahil sa kakulangan ng facilities. Kaya marami sa mga CICL’s ang nagging recidivists na. Pabalik-balik na lang silang gumagawa ng krimen dahil alam nilang di na sila pu-pwedeng mabilanggo (When they were arrested they were turned over to the DSWD who also turn over the CICL to their parents even without the proper rehabilitation due to lack of facilities. That is why many of the CICL’s are turning to be recidivists. They repeatedly committed the crimes because they know they cannot be placed behind bars)," Caro said in an interview last Thursday.
Caro recommended for the strict implementation of the intervention programs stipulated in the law as he appealed to all sectors to help in the rehabilitation of these young criminals.
Here in Davao City, Caro said, the City Government had already approved the construction of a facility for the rehabilitation of the CICLs. He said this is however not true in all of the cities and provinces in the region and the whole country. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (July 29, 2007 issue)
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