JJAG rallies for stronger juvenile justice system

MANILA, Philippines - In its consistent search for new discoveries to improve the welfare of children in conflict with the law (CICL), De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, through its College of Law Enforcement Administration and Public Safety and Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academics and Research, in partnership with the Juvenile Justice Advocacy Group (JJAG), a multi-sectoral group of children’s rights advocates headed by Sen. Francis Pangilinan, gathered police officers, social workers, and other representatives from various local government units to take part in the seminar workshop on the Juvenile Justice Law at the Luis Aguado Viewing Room, Sept. 22.

It was three years ago when the Juvenile Justice and Welfare act of 2006 was first enacted to champion the rights of CICL and the youth at risk. Hailed as a landmark piece of legislation, RA 9344 is the first law ever to uphold the juvenile justice and welfare system in the country. Under the Juvenile Justice System, its focus is on rehabilitating CICL instead of punishing them. For tens of thousands of Filipino youth, the Juvenile Justice Law gave them a second chance for a better life.

The salient provisions of the Juvenile Justice Law, or RA 9344, including restorative justice diversion and situation analysis of CICL in the Philippines were extensively discussed in the workshop by experts of the law and members of JJAG. In the afternoon session, delegates were further divided into smaller groups to have a more extensive exchange of ideas on the applicable processes and procedures in the management of cases of CICL and the youth-at-risk.

“Many of those children who commit crimes are already being let down by adults — parents, guardians, relatives, and teachers. They deserve another chance at a productive life in a nurturing environment. This is precisely what the Juvenile Justice Law does — letting them live out their maximum potential as productive citizens and making a worthwhile contribution to their families and communities,” Pangilinan said.

Unfortunately, because of the lack of resources, the law is not properly and fully implemented. There is confusion and misunderstanding in the implementation of the law among police officers, social workers, and barangay captains due to the lack of accurate information and the right training. This results in negative knee-jerk reactions which compromise the rights and welfare of children. The Juvenile Justice Welfare Council, the lead agency mandated to implement the law, has yet to receive the resources allocated by government for the implementation of its programs.

“We at JJAG have yet to see a juvenile justice law that is alive and functioning and bringing concrete benefits to children. We call on the government to empower the law’s implementers, the Juvenile Justice Welfare Council, and to release the funds that the Council needs to help these children,” Pangilinan furthers.