MikeLigalig.com

LOS BAŇOS, Laguna -- Laguna mayors on Thursday acknowledged that their joint efforts with the police have yielded significant results in carrying out the President’s war on drugs. 

However, the success also gave rise to several concerns aired during the August 23-25 “Panatag Summit” themed  "Kaligtasan, Kalusugan at Kapayapaan" at the Centro Mall Convention Center here.

They said the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, otherwise known as Republic Act No. 9344, the alarming rise in the number of detainees, and  the lack of police investigators and policemen have continuously derailed their vigorous campaign against illegal drugs.

At this stage of the anti-drug drive, local government units have encountered serious problems in providing enough "shelters" for offenders.

Cabuyao Mayor Mel Gecolea said the police headquarters and the city jail used to be housed in a common place.  He said he was compelled to relocate the police headquarters just to accommodate the rising number of drug offenders.

 "Talagang sobra na ang dami ng mga nadarakip at kulang na kulang na kami sa kulungan (There is a large number of arrested suspects. We don’t have enough prison cells to accomodate them),” the mayor told representatives of different national government agencies during the summit.

Mayor George Berris of Calauan said another concern brought about by the successful war on drugs in the province is the inadequate number of police investigators tasked to probe suspected drug users and pushers.

Sr. Supt. Cecilio R. Ison, provincial director of the Philippine National Police (PNP), admitted they have limited number of policemen, saying that the ratio has been placed at one policeman for every 1,532 people.

Likewise, the local chief executives said the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 must be amended or a special law crafted that would stop criminal syndicates from using minors in preying on innocent victims.

Mayor Berris pointed out that although a law provides penalties for crime offenders including the minors, "such will not help in putting an end to the involvement of minors in crimes because of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act."

As provided for under the same law, a minor who is 15 years of age or under at the time of the offense committed, shall be completely exempted from criminal liability.

But, if the age is below 18, investigators are required to check the level of the minor's discernment and if proven to have a sound wisdom of the crime, the minor offender will ace charges when they reach the age of 18.  (L.R. Principe/PNA)



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