"It reinforces irresponsibility among young people, telling them that they can commit crimes, harm other people – and get away with it."
"It reinforces irresponsibility among young people, telling them that they can commit crimes, harm other people – and get away with it."
Who wouldn’t be disgusted and frustrated seeing on video two teenage girls gang up on another 16-year old member of their so-called sorority in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Bay, Laguna?
The two took turns dragging, punching and kicking the helpless victim on a muddy vacant lot while a crowd watched.
It was not until after the victim had been severely beaten, sustaining head and body injuries, that other gang members moved to stop the attack.
The victim’s parents sought my help in pressing a complaint against the suspects this week.
After being apprehended by barangay officials, prompted by my staff’s request for assistance, one of the suspects admitted she was jealous of the victim’s being too close to her boyfriend.
Despite the seriousness of the injuries sustained by the victim, the two suspects had to be released because they are also of minor age.
They were only required to do “community service” at a local church.
The father of the victim, Norberto Villanueva, Jr., decried the disposition of the case, dictated by the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 (RA 9344), which states:
“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.”
However, the exemption from criminal liability does not include exemption from civil liability, so the victim can sue for damages.
Since this lame law authored by Sen. Kiko Pangilinan was implemented, it has been widely-abused, producing a whole generation of budding criminals without regard to the rights of crime victims.
Criminal offenders under the age 18 simply get away with committing various crimes like murder, rape, armed robbery, illegal drugs trafficking, extortion, hazing, prostitution, and cyber-crimes.
In the past years, motorists during traffic stops on EDSA were robbed at knifepoint in broad daylight by boys as young as 12.
Some of them were arrested but found carrying their birth certificates, so they got off the hook instantly and got back on the streets again.
They cannot be jailed because this piece of law that says they may not have acted with discernment due to immaturity and, therefore, cannot be held responsible and accountable for their crimes.
Ironically, the months of lockdown during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) proved an effective deterrent to crime, particularly those involving juvenile delinquents.
Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, head of the Joint Task Force COVID Shield, said crime volume during the pandemic was “lowest” because there were fewer people in the streets as the public was required to stay home to reduce the transmission of COVID-19.
The trend continued until the authorities started relaxing restrictions, placing Metro Manila under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ), allowing teenagers to loiter the streets even during curfew hours.
We have, for instance, received complaints from residents about groups of teenagers gathering at night along Zobel Roxas St. near Onyx St., San Andres Bukid, Manila at the border of Manila and Makati.
The juvenile delinquents reportedly hang around without face masks, smoke, engage in gambling and fight among themselves, disturbing peace.
They belong to the generation of young criminals that the law protect. They will continue to grow in number until Congress passes a bill lowering the minimum of age of criminal responsibility to at least 12 years old.
We are supposed to inculcate the sense of responsibility and accountability in our children at home with a system of rewards and punishment.
But the Pangilinan Law reinforces irresponsibility among young people, telling them that they can commit crimes, harm other people – and get away with it.