The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Friday it will submit to Congress a bill seeking to amend the law that exempts youth offenders from criminal liability.
DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo said he will propose for the amendment of certain provisions of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (JJWA), including Section 6 of the said law. which states that: “A child above fifteen (15) years but below eighteen (18) years of age shall likewise be exempt from criminal liability and be subjected to an intervention program, unless he/she has acted with discernment, in which case, such child shall be subjected to the appropriate proceedings in accordance with this Act.â€
“We should seriously look into the implications of exempting juvenile offenders from criminal liability,†he said.
Robredo raised the issue of amending the juvenile law during consultations with local officials in Metro Manila early this week, where he noted that criminal syndicates are using minors to perpetrate their illegal activities.
During the consultations, he also asked local and police officials, including members of the local peace and order council, for their suggestions and inputs on the proposed amendments to the juvenile law.
He said that based on intelligence reports from the Philippine National Police (PNP), some juveniles are getting bolder and braver in doing criminal acts such as robbery and theft because they know that they will eventually be set free or turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“We should also consider that behind these minors are adults who influence them into doing these criminal acts,†said Robredo. (PNA)
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