The Juvenile Justice Welfare Act—the law that exempts 15-year-olds and younger minors from criminal liability—has paved the way for a new generation of criminals, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday.
Republic Act 9344, authored by Sen. Francis Pangilinan and enacted in 2006, prohibits the imprisonment of such minors and Duterte said it took away mechanisms for the youth to reflect on their misdeeds.
"I have the highest of respect for Pangilinan. But iyong law, liability, labas-pasok ang mga bata? You can ask any policeman or anyone connected to the law enforcement. It produced a generation of criminals," Duterte said in a speech during the ceremonies of The Outstanding Filipino Awards in Malacañang.
"Pag sabi na below 15, sasabihin na 15... the police must release him immediately or face charges, whatever the crime that child committed. Maybe he would rob and kill. Maybe he would rob and kill and rape. Maski ano, kapag sinabi na 15, release," he added.
Duterte said that the law had great intentions but lacked ways for minors to be held accountable.
This, he said, made the minors in conflict with the law return to committing crimes.
"It was good. But the law did not provide itong mga correctional where they are taught to understand the responsibility. Wala silang sense of accountability," Duterte said.
Sought for comment, Pangilinan said he would want to show Duterte the positive effects of the juvenile justice law.
"I hope the President can give me the chance to explain the positive aspects of the law," said Pangilinan, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice in 2006.
"Many of those minors who otherwise would have been thrown in jail, abused repeatedly or even raped while in incsreration have in fact been reformed and are now productive citizens of this country," the senator added.
Defends curfew
Duterte also made a case on implementing a curfew for minors following a report on a riot that killed two persons in Manila.
"I don't know what happened to the petition. Kagabi lang, dalawa patay nag-rambol," Duterte said.
"The Supreme Court has yet to rule on the issue of human rights of children being... You know, we are not arresting the children. We are taking them into custody for their protection. That is why, that is the rationale behind itong curfew," he added.
Duterte was referring to the recent decision of the SC to issue a temporary restraining order the implementation of curfews in Quezon City, Navotas City, and Manila.
"They have to be protected because if they mix up the middle of the night up to the wee hours of the morning and they are into drugs and they are the runners, pagdating ng--pinakialam kasi talaga," Duterte said.
Duterte, when he was mayor, imposed a 10 p.m. curfew in Davao City on unescorted minors.
Republic Act 9344, authored by Sen. Francis Pangilinan and enacted in 2006, prohibits the imprisonment of such minors and Duterte said it took away mechanisms for the youth to reflect on their misdeeds.
"I have the highest of respect for Pangilinan. But iyong law, liability, labas-pasok ang mga bata? You can ask any policeman or anyone connected to the law enforcement. It produced a generation of criminals," Duterte said in a speech during the ceremonies of The Outstanding Filipino Awards in Malacañang.
"Pag sabi na below 15, sasabihin na 15... the police must release him immediately or face charges, whatever the crime that child committed. Maybe he would rob and kill. Maybe he would rob and kill and rape. Maski ano, kapag sinabi na 15, release," he added.
Duterte said that the law had great intentions but lacked ways for minors to be held accountable.
This, he said, made the minors in conflict with the law return to committing crimes.
"It was good. But the law did not provide itong mga correctional where they are taught to understand the responsibility. Wala silang sense of accountability," Duterte said.
Sought for comment, Pangilinan said he would want to show Duterte the positive effects of the juvenile justice law.
"I hope the President can give me the chance to explain the positive aspects of the law," said Pangilinan, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice in 2006.
"Many of those minors who otherwise would have been thrown in jail, abused repeatedly or even raped while in incsreration have in fact been reformed and are now productive citizens of this country," the senator added.
Defends curfew
Duterte also made a case on implementing a curfew for minors following a report on a riot that killed two persons in Manila.
"I don't know what happened to the petition. Kagabi lang, dalawa patay nag-rambol," Duterte said.
"The Supreme Court has yet to rule on the issue of human rights of children being... You know, we are not arresting the children. We are taking them into custody for their protection. That is why, that is the rationale behind itong curfew," he added.
Duterte was referring to the recent decision of the SC to issue a temporary restraining order the implementation of curfews in Quezon City, Navotas City, and Manila.
"They have to be protected because if they mix up the middle of the night up to the wee hours of the morning and they are into drugs and they are the runners, pagdating ng--pinakialam kasi talaga," Duterte said.
Duterte, when he was mayor, imposed a 10 p.m. curfew in Davao City on unescorted minors.
Source: gmanetwork
Share this story!
Visit and follow our website: Duterte News Global
© Duterte News Global
Post a Comment