Buwagin ang mga sindikato sa likod ng mga batang hamog

We have received reports that these children are in fact used and supported by criminal syndicates that exploit minors. If true, then the PNP should go after the syndicates instead of simply pinning the blame on the minors and the Juvenile Justice Law.

The easiest thing to do is blame the law or the minors and in the process let these syndicates go scot-free. Is this their agenda? Absolve the criminal syndicates? If they eliminate these syndicates then there will be no minors involved in criminal activities run by syndicates.

Kasabwat ba ng ilang elemento ng PNP ang mga sindikato kaya ayaw nilang buwagin ang mga ito? May ‘cashunduan’ ba sa pagitan ng PNP at mga sindikato? Ayaw ko naman isipin na ang kaya lang ng PNP ay ‘yung mga bata o menor de edad.

Kung sino pa ang pinakadehado at inaabuso, ‘yun din ang pinag-iinitan ng PNP, ganun ba? Huwag naman sana ganun.

These minors are victims of exploitation and abuse by criminal syndicates and for the PNP to pin the blame on these minors and the law is to victimize these children all over again.

Buwagin ang mga sindikato at lalaho na ang mga batang hamog na pakawala ng mga sindikatong ito.

Critics of JJ Law are barking up the wrong tree

Those frustrated by the proliferation of crimes committed by so-called ‘hamog boys’ are barking up the wrong tree in blaming RA 9344, or Juvenile Justice Law.

We don’t understand the argument that RA 9344 is to blame for all these crimes. Unang-una, hindi naman dapat pakawalan ang mga batang ito pag nahuli. Kailangan pa rin nilang managot sa kanilang ginawa. Ang RA 9344 ay isang hiwalay na justice system na isinagawa para sa mga kabataang delingkwente. Maliwanag iyan. At di rin natin maintindihan ang argumentong nahihirapan ang mga pulis makakuha ng mga impormasyon mula sa mga kabataan para matumpok ang mga sindikato sa likod ng mga krimeng ito dahil sa RA 9344. Hindi naman siguro ganun ka-inutil ang ating kapulisan na kung hindi makuha ang impormasyon sa kabataan e titigil na sa pagpursigi sa kaso.

While I can sympathize with the victims, there is fundamental lack in the implementation of laws in the country, and that is where the focus ought to be.

Meron tayong mga batas na nagsasaad halimbawa na bawal pakalat-kalat ang mga aso at dapat nakatali ang mga ito para maiwasan ang rabies. Pero nakikita natin pakalat-kalat pa rin ang mga ito. Mali ba ang batas? Mali din ba ang batas na nagsasaad na bawal ang mga pedicab sa malalaking lansangan gayong nagkalat pa rin ang mga ito doon? Palagay ko ang dapat tutukan ng ating pamahalaan ay ang tamang pagpapatupad ng batas bago pa man magpanukala ng anupamang mga pagbabago gayong wala pa naman tayong basehan kung epektibo ba ito o hindi.

Problem is not the law, but understanding and implementation

The main problem with the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act is the fact that even its key stakeholders do not understand the law, and therefore are not able to implement it properly. The essence of the law is to ensure the accountability of youth offenders, not to let them get away scot-free.

Nowhere in the law does it state that we should simply let youth offenders go, regardless of their age. Nowhere in the law does it state that children in conflict with the law are ‘exempt’ of any kind of justice. Ang sinasabi sa batas ay hindi natin dapat husgahan at ikulong ang mga batang nagkakasala sa parehong paraan na hinuhusgahan at kinukulong ang mga mas matanda.

First of all, the law provides for a separate justice system for children and youth, with the belief that our youth should not be condemned to lives of criminality by throwing them into the same jail as hardened criminals. The Juvenile Justice Law works under a system of reformative justice, putting in place a system and a program for rehabilitating our youth in conflict with the law. While minors, as a general rule, will not be held to account for their acts under our criminal justice system, these children in conflict with the law are to be held to account for their acts under the Juvenile Justice system.

Youth offenders cannot get away scot-free. Under the law, even minors may be held liable, and if they are above fifteen (15) years old, and they may be prosecuted and held liable criminally as an adult.

It is against the law to release a child without going through the proper diversion program—moreso if the offender is a repeat offender. Also, involuntary confinement is a remedy available, especially for minors involved in serious offenses (assuming that, the first time around, the intruder was still a minor), and releasing a child involved in a serious offense is a violation of the Juvenile Justice Law.

Dalawa ang naging malaki nating balakid sa pagsasatupad ng batas: una, ngayong taon lang na ito nilabas ang pondo para sa pagpapatupad ng batas na dapat noong 2006 pa ibinigay ng administrasyong Arroyo. Hindi nabigyan ng training ang ating mga law enforcers. Sunod, marami sa mga dapat na nakakaintindi sa batas ang hindi pa rin nakakaintindi sa batas. Sinasabi nilang pinakakawalan natin ang mga batang maysala, e hindi naman iyon ang nakasaad sa batas.

There are some bright spots in the law’s implementation, when LGUs take the lead in ensuring proper implementation of the law and provide support for intervention programs. In Marikina City, Wensley was arrested for theft and was made to undergo an intervention program under the DSWD. Years later, he has been reformed and reintegrated into society and now works as a gasoline station attendant. In 2007, Richard was an alleged gun for hire and was arrested for violating the Omnibus Election Code. He was placed in a foundation for seven months and was placed under the care of a foster family. While undergoing the program, he finished two vocational courses and went on to be employed by a construction company in Laguna.

The charges against Richard were eventually dismissed due to lack of merit. He is only one of the many youth in conflict with the law who have been given a new lease on life, thanks to the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.

Before we consider repealing or suspending the law, let’s give it a chance—now that the Aquino administration has released funding for its implementation. And, before anything else, let’s make sure that all stakeholders read and understand the law so we can help in its effective implementation.