THE seems to be never ending debate on what age should a child be criminally culpable of his actions finally ended in both houses pending the amendments to be signed into law.
It is 12 years old! The proposed amendment of Republic Act (RA) 10630, a child aged 12 and above can be criminally liable should his activities run counter against the existing laws of the republic.
The dilemma started when the parents at home and teachers at school were cautioned that imposing both punitive and non-punitive actions to a child as corrective measures against wrongdoings are per se and per quod punishable by law (RA 7610). Since then, children who were supposed to be trained and pruned to become responsible citizens were drifted to the open sea of attractions, uncorrected.
These laws are merely copied from more developed countries and not even tailored to our own cultural setting. As a predisposed result in western world, many school-aged children carry guns to school campuses and figured in many shooting sprees.
The blame now goes back to the parents of loose discipline at home. But in the first place it was the existing sagging laws, framed by reckless lawmakers that liberate the youth.
With the two controverting laws, RA 7610 and RA 10630, the parents are caught in between two laws in a helpless situation because even the non-punitive discipline per quod is still punishable by law. Where will the parents stand to protect their treasured children? Do the lame duck lawmakers also provide a venue for parents to compulsorily develop skills in parenting such as family development orientation, up-to-date trainings, and regular family monitoring? Or if there is such, is it implemented religiously? I bet if there is, it is for photo ops purposes only.
At present situation, many would assent as “Consuelo de bobo” if the lawmakers would at least amend to loosen the provisions of RA 7610 to give ample parental privilege to marginally castigate their children with love; rather than the government will take over the parental role to discipline that exposes the child to the penance of harsh law patented as “juvenile justice system.”
Do not get me wrong, but children yesterday whose parents hit them in imposing strict tenets and ground rules at home are well-mannered broods like you and me, right? I am afraid that the next generation after the present one will resemble the wild west, where shooting in the streets are common, uncontrollable as part of their existence. God forbid.
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