MikeLigalig.com

By Rubyloida Bitog
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/
Tuesday, January 15, 2013


LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The newly installed Benguet police director wants age of criminals to be pegged at 10 years old as minors are becoming rampant offenders in the province.

Police Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Azurin expressed his sentiments over the problem on minors in front of the Provincial Board last Monday. He said minors had been reported to him as one of the major problems in Benguet during the past years.

He said minors are used by high profile robbers in sneaking into the different houses, especially in La Trinidad, because of the protection to minors the laws provide.

He added most of the arrested robbers were minors and some gangs, which are still roaming around are groups of minors.

During the discussion, some board members cited some sitios in La Trinidad where robbery happens in every house. They expressed their fears because the robbers might posses some firearms.

However, police personnel from the town assured the officials the robbers are just minors and are not professional thieves.

La Trinidad police force showed their frustrations on continuously arresting minors but the suspects still keep on doing the same illegal activity because of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 prohibiting punishment on minors even if they committed crimes.

Azurin admitted they have this dilemma on how to discipline kids in Benguet not to enter into such criminal activity.

He said if only the decision-makers could amend the juvenile act, he will urge the officials to lower the age limit of criminals to 10 as a disciplinary measure for minors who are engaging in illegal acts.

The new provincial police director of Benguet committed to closely negotiate with the decisionâ€"makers in the National Government to introduce amendments on the juvenile act. “As long as minors are offenders, they should be sanctioned.”

Quote from: hubag bohol on January 16, 2013, 09:49:13 PM
He said if only the decision-makers could amend the juvenile act, he will urge the officials to lower the age limit of criminals to 10 as a disciplinary measure for minors who are engaging in illegal acts.

aguy.  9 years old and below na pod ang gamiton sa mga criminal elements ani...

punish the parents or guardians of offending minors kaha...

Quote from: islander on January 17, 2013, 12:00:44 AM
punish the parents or guardians of offending minors kaha...

Mao! Kuwang child psychology ning bossinga... solbaha ang krimen sa society/kultura/sistema. Criminal elements will use everything apil mga police to advance their agenda... unahag hipos mga polis nga involved usa mga inosenteng bata

These minors should be given counseling and extracted from their abusive environments, not punished. They are still minors, for heaven's sake. The superintendent needs to be practical and considerate.

A wee bit  Inspector Javert-esque, don't you think?

Quote from: islander on January 16, 2013, 11:55:48 PM
aguy.  9 years old and below na pod ang gamiton sa mga criminal elements ani...

Sunod unggoy nay gamiton...