MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang called on all sectors – parents in particular – to help the government prevent crimes involving minors, saying the police cannot do everything to ensure peace and order.
“We would like to ask the parents to take a look also at their children. Prevention can come from state agencies as well as from parents and we all have a stake in making sure that we raise our children well,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said, noting that “the recent slew of incidents shows a particular trend towards young kids committing crimes.”
There have been calls to lower the age of criminal responsibility following arrests of children for rape, robbery and homicide.
Under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act or Republic Act 9344, a child 15 years old or below at the time the crime was committed is exempt from criminal liability and cannot be prosecuted.
Last Saturday, Malacañang said President Aquino does not yet have a position on the proposed amendment to RA 9344.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Palace will wait for the Department of Justice and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to present their positions to the President officially. The DOJ and the DSWD oppose lowering the age by which minors can be arrested and charged.
“I don’t remember that the President has said anything recently on this despite the recent discussions (on whether the law must be amended) because of the use of children by certain syndicates to commit crimes,” she said in a radio interview.
Valte said the Palace is concerned about the syndicates’ use of children in committing crimes. She said the President could also await deliberations in Congress regarding the matter.
She said the government will look into various proposals as some sectors wanted children as young as seven to be held criminally liable.
“That is something that has to be studied and looked into. There are those who are of the opinion that it should not be amended because it’s a matter of correction and genuine rehabilitation,” Valte said.
The DOJ and DSWD said juveniles in conflict with the law are victims of circumstances beyond their control and should be treated as individuals with problems who needed help.
Lacierda said in yesterday’s press briefing that based on records of the Philipppine National Police, the number of crimes went down, but some cases are particularly sensational or gruesome. He said the PNP has been doing its job and the cases are being investigated.