PNP backs amendment of juvenile law

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) expressed support for the proposed amendment of the juvenile law amid reports of youths involved in street crimes, particularly robbery and transport of drugs.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said the PNP has been actively pursuing the amendment of Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, through the PNP legislative agenda.

“The PNP is one with the effort to amend the juvenile law. We are actively pursuing this through our legislative agenda in coordination with Congress,” Cruz added.

The Senate committee on justice and human rights is ready to submit to the plenary a measure suspending the continued implementation of the law.

Sen. Francis Escudero, justice committee chairman, said the resurgence of crimes principally committed by minors, the latest of which are the so-called “Hamog Boys” notorious in the vicinity of Makati, especially along EDSA in Guadalupe, made urgent the suspension of RA 9344.

The Senate committee proposed the suspension of the implementation of the provision of the 5-year-old Juvenile Justice Law to enable law enforcement agencies to go after teenage criminals.

Escudero said he is readying the committee report that will recommend the suspension of the provision in the law that exempts individuals below 15 years old from being arrested and charged with criminal offenses.

Escudero explained that the law will not be repealed altogether since it has good provisions on rehabilitation of young offenders.

“The age covered by the exemption will just be adjusted. It’s back to nine years old, which was in the old law,” the senator said, referring to the provisions of the Revised Penal Code as amended by the Child and Youth Welfare Code.

The senator made the stand following public concern over the snatching and attacks made by the so-called Batang Hamog on car owners, taxi drivers and passengers caught in traffic along major thoroughfares in Metro Manila.

The most recent incident was caught on video by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) along EDSA in Makati City.

Escudero said there is a move at the Senate and the House of Representatives to issue a joint resolution “in the nature of a temporary relief.”

He said the Senate committee has been waiting for the report of the Juvenile Justice Welfare Council, which is under the supervision of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), on feedback on the juvenile justice law but the committee’s call fell on deaf ears.

“We have been waiting for the report for three months, but we have not received any report. We cannot wait for it anymore. We are ready to present the committee report by next week,” Escudero said.

Malacañang said Congress has the duty to amend the juvenile justice law.

“We leave it to the legislators to decide. The legislators can come up with possible amendments. This will now partake of legislation,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

The job of amending RA 9344 should be left to the Senate and the House of Representatives because “the legislators are our representatives in government.”

“It’s not for the Palace to say it’s good or not. There are parents, the media, and even our police force who want this law amended. So the public can consult the two houses of Congress if they want an amendment to it,” Lacierda added. – With Delon Porcalla, Marvin Sy