How many more heinous crimes—like the one committed by a 17-year-old to Christine Silawan of Cebu City—must be committed before the so-called righteous women's groups realize that RA 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, is a sham?
There is public outrage, as well as apprehension, that the principal suspect arrested by National Bureau of Investigation Region 7 (NBI-7) agents might not land in jail because he is a minor.
And last Saturday, as Christine is being laid to rest, the Cebu court ordered the NBI to immediately release from its custody the teenage suspect because he was arrested without any warrant. He will still be tried for murder once the hearing starts, according to the court.
So for now, the teenage suspect has been released and probably billeted in a safe house under the auspices of Senator Francis Pangilinan. Who knows?
The "Pangilinan law" exempts minors or anyone under 18 years old from criminal responsibility.
Legal experts say the young suspect could walk away free if a government psychiatrist would certify in court that he was not in his right state of mind, because of his age, while committing that horrible crime.
Just what is the difference between his state of mind when he committed that heinous crime over a week ago and when he turns 18 in a few days? Can someone tell me the logic? Perhaps Senator Francis Pangilinan can.
It was Pangilinan who authored RA 9344 (signed by then President Gloria Arroyo) in 2006. That boy should invite the senator when he celebrates his 18th birthday! He is off-the-hook, at least for now.
This demonic killer-rapist was so "innocent" he waylaid, raped, and then slaughtered 16-year-old Christine Silawan who had served as church collector at a chapel in Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu. Her half-naked and mutilated body was found on a vacant lot the next day.
And for those who oppose lowering the minimum age of criminal liability, particularly those who oppose the restoration of the death penalty, how many more dead teenagers do you need to reconsider your so called "anti-death penalty" stand?
A few days after the rape and murder of Christine in Cebu, another teenage girl was gang-raped in Tondo, Manila where at least two of the perpetrators are minors.
The mother of the victim has called on President Duterte for help to attain justice, as the two minors may be absolved of criminal liability. Thanks again Senator Kiko!
When arrested by the police, the suspects admitted committing the crime after authorities seized their cellphones containing video recordings of the said rape.
Police said the modus of the group, who call themselves as the "FU*@#K Boys", consists of befriending girls on-line, inviting them to partying and drugging their drinks, and then raping the helpless victims while video-recording the act. Worse, they even post it online!
Self-respecting parents who have helped their children develop a sense of responsibility beginning at the age of four or five will say that kids will be capable of discernment once they reach teen age.
So, I would like to thank Senator Pangilinan, the 13th Congress, who passed this stupid law, and Gloria Arroyo for signing it into law in 2006…on behalf of the increasing number of minors who commit these heinous crimes.
