W.Visayas regional officials wants juvenile law amended

ILOILO CITY ,Philippines  — The Regional Peace and Order Council in Western Visayas has approved resolutions calling for an amendment of Republic Act 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, by lowering from 15 to 11, the minimum age of criminal responsibility for minor offenders.

The Iloilo City Peace and Order Council also approved a similar resolution, supporting and urging the approval of House Bill 03815, authored by the city’s Rep. Jerry Treñas, seeking to put under criminal liability juvenile offenders of 12 years old and above if acting with discernment.

The development administration committee of the RPOC, while saying that it may not be the only solution to rising juvenile crimes, also pushed for the amendment citing a police report of the increasing trend of crimes committed by minors aged 18 and below in the region.

These moves were welcomed by law enforcers who noted an ICPO report from January to August this year crime incidents involving 154 children, 54 of them below 15 years old. Of these juvenile offenses, 74 were thieveries, 24 alarms and scandals, 20 physical injuries, 10 robberies and three frustrated murders, among others.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-6, for its part, joined the bandwagon of pushing for the amendment of the law.

PDEA-6 regional director Yogi Filemon Ruiz said his office has wanted to lower the age of discernment for minors violating the Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act), exempting a child 15 years old and under from criminal liability.

This law has been exploited, as evidenced by the increasing use of minors in drug transactions. “These criminals know that children could not be prosecuted and they’re taking advantage of that,” said Ruiz.

PDEA-6 records showed 32 minors arrested for drug violations over the past six months, most of them aged 15-17 years old.

Besides lowering the age of discernment, PDEA-6 further wanted the imposition of heavy penalties on the parents or guardians of children in conflict with the law. “In that way, parents won’t condone the act of their children,” he said.

Ruiz also reported the increase on the use of technology in drug transactions, such as the present manner of placing orders via mobile phones or the internet.

Payments are made thru e-money, pay-pal, credit cards, and bulk purchases are paid thru direct bank deposits or through internet/phone banking, Ruiz added.