‎Senate to review Juvenile Justice Law amid rising crimes involving minors

National

THE Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights will carry out an in-depth review of Republic Act No. 9344, known as the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, in light of recent violent crimes involving minors that have sparked public concern.

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Committee chair Sen. Erwin Tulfo stated that the review's purpose is to pinpoint deficiencies in the law’s implementation, emphasizing that victims of serious offenses are entitled to justice while also ensuring that children involved in legal issues receive appropriate rehabilitation.‎

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"Even before I became a public servant, I witnessed the harsh realities of this law on the ground. For years, helpless victims of minor-led crimes flooded our public service shows, who feel completely helpless because of the Juvenile Law implementation," Tulfo said in a Philstar report.

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‎The upcoming review follows several recent events involving young individuals, such as a shooting in Tacloban City that resulted in the deaths of three people, as well as separate incidents of stabbings reported in Negros Occidental and Cavite.

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‎Tulfo mentioned that the Senate committee will seek input from legal experts, law enforcement, social welfare groups, church representatives, medical practitioners, and parents to ensure that all viewpoints are taken into account.

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‎"This review will cover all bases. We are actively getting insights from law experts, law enforcement, social welfare groups, the church, medical professionals, and parents themselves. We need every perspective on the table because we are not just looking at the fine print of the law. We are fixing a broken reality on the ground," he said.

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‎Among the topics to be reviewed are the insufficient number of operational Bahay Pag-asa rehabilitation centers, the success of intervention programs for Children in Conflict with the Law and Children at Risk, the enforcement of parental responsibility, and whether the existing age of criminal responsibility is still suitable.

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‎Tulfo, who formerly held the position of secretary at the Department of Social Welfare and Development, stated that he observed firsthand the difficulties in enforcing the law, particularly the lack of rehabilitation centers and available resources.

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‎The senator pointed out that the objective of the review is not to eliminate legal protections for children but to enhance the law's enforcement and achieve a balance between safeguarding the rights of minors and ensuring justice for victims of crime.

‎(Zoe Casas PIT Comm Intern).