“KEEP our eyes on the ball.” This is what we learned from the week-long deliberation by our legislators to lower the minimum age of criminal liability (changed to minimum age of social responsibility) from 15 to 12. The crux of the debate was that the Duterte administration wanted it lowered to nine.
Proponents to the revised version of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act argued that criminal syndicates have been exploiting children in their illegal activities. Given that, are these syndicates violating Republic Act 7610 that protects children from abuse and exploitation? Why are we after the children and not those who are abusing and exploiting them? If we consider these children the victims, why are we tagging them as criminals?
To this date, I haven’t heard of any adult (either parents or members of criminal syndicates) allegedly using these young offenders to commit crimes, subsequently face criminal charges. There is a provision in the existing law that punishes anybody that exploits and instigates a child to commit a crime. Parents may be held accountable.
Implementers of the law did not pursue the complete implication of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act. They got stuck on the first two words... “Juvenile Justice” and dropped the last two words... “Welfare Act.”
Infrastructure is the priority of this administration but there should be some balance in government spending. Fund a program that will address the problem of our street children. This will require the emergency effort of inter-agencies of the government, and the much needed budgetary requirements. Sen. Kiko Pangilinan suggested that the government use part of the controversial P79 billion 2019 budget allocated for the Public Works department.
Psychologists, clinical experts and some human rights group argued that since most of these minor offenders come from poor families, economic status usually affect the discernment of these children, especially when they go to school with an empty stomach. Sen. Dick Gordon suggested that breakfast and lunch be provided in public schools, so children will be encouraged to go to school and minimize dropouts.
Change in semantics did not help in decriminalizing the revision of the existing law. It does not matter anymore what words we use to confront the problem. The end result will speak for itself.