Senador Kiko Pangilinan refuted and clarified information about the Juvenile Justice Law. He said that on Wednesday, August 13, they debated the accountability and provisions of the law concerning children who commit crimes, and the continuous spread of fake news from the past until the present.
The senator made it clear that it’s a form of disinformation to say that a minor must be released from jail. It’s also false to say police don’t have the right to keep a guilty child in custody and that they must be released. According to him, this is a wrong and untrue understanding of the Juvenile Justice Law. He added that if a police officer were to release a minor who committed a crime, the officer would be held accountable for violating the law.
“Nakipag-debate na tayo noon, last Wednesday, dahil sabi natin, unang-una, dapat talaga ay may pananagutan at nasa batas naman ‘yan ng mga batang nagkasala. Kasi, marami kasing “fake news”, unang una sinasabi disinformation na pagkabata menor edad, dapat daw pakawalan dahil walang magagawa ang batas, dahil ‘yun daw ang sinasabi ng “Juvenile Justice Law” which is mali, hindi tama ito,Matagal nang kinakalat ito ng kung sino-sino, na wala raw magagawa ang mga pulis dahil sabi ng batas, kapag nagkasala ‘yung bata, ay kailangan pakawalan. In fact, ‘pag pinakawalan ang bata, labag ‘yan sa batas at may pananagutan ang mga pulis,” Pangilinan said.
He added that some people are spreading this false information, claiming that if a minor commits rape, they will simply be released. However, Pangilinan clarified that the law is very clear: if a minor commits a serious offense such as rape, homicide, or attempted rape, they must be placed in involuntary confinement within 24 hours of the report being filed.
“Pangalawa, sinasabi ng mga kababayan natin, ‘pag daw minor de edad na nagkasala sa rape, ganoon din, kailangan daw pakawalan. Klaro sa batas na pagka serious offenses tulad ng rape, homicide, at attempted rape, ay dapat, magkaroon ng 24 hours pagkanahihain yong report ay mailagay involuntary confinement yung bata,. So dito sa debate, ‘yung pagbaba ng edad sa 10 (years old) ang dahilan kasi nga raw sabi masyado na daw karumaldumal, etc.”
In the same discussion, the senator also acknowledged that he supported the bill because the law itself states that in cases of children in conflict with the law, the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) is responsible for providing assistance to the victims. He emphasized that this is a clear and existing part of the law.
“At tayo naman ay nakikiisa dahil ang batas din ang nagsasabi, pagkabiktima ng children in conflict with a law ng mga batang nagkasala, ay may pananagutan ang ting mga DSWD na bigyan ng assistance ang ating mga biktima. And we share in their desire na magkaroon ng hustisya, at hindi totoo at mali ang akala na walang hustisya. The law is clear: ‘pag nagkasala ang 15-19 (years old) at “acted with discernment”—ibig sabihin, alam niya kung ano ang tama at mali—puwede siyang litisin,” he added.
The senator likened this to the shocking incident that befell the Manguad Siblings, where the two accused are still languishing in prison at the Davao Penal Colony even though they were minors when they committed the alleged crime.
“and that’s what happened” sa Maguad killings. ‘Yung dalawang akusado ay nakakulong ngayon sa Davao Penal Colony dahil nga kahit na menor de edad sila, sinasabi ng “Juvenile Justice Welfare Law” na puwede silang litisin at parusahan. At ‘yun ang nangyari. Kaya ang sinasabi nilang amiyendahan ninyo ‘yung batas dahil hindi ito angkop o nakakawala sa mga bata ay mali. ‘Yung Manguad killings ay patunay na hindi ‘yon totoo dahil nakakulong na sila at ang kanilang sentensya ay “life imprisonment,” he said.
On the topic of the 19-year-old Juvenile Justice Law and the amendments of it in 2013, which Sen. Kiko Pangilinan himself authored, he clarified the reasons behind the misinformation and understanding of the people about it. He strongly denied that he was not the owner of the law, and that the law belongs to the country.
He also recalled that in 2006, the said law was unanimous, no objection in the House of Representatives, no objection in the Senate, so if it is called the “Pangilinan Law,” he firmly believes that it is already politicized.
“Hindi ito batas ko, batas ito ng bansa. Noong pinasa ito noong 2006, unanimous, no objection sa House of Representatives, no objection sa Senate. Kaya ‘pag sinasabi nila na “Pangilinan Law,” ay sinasadya na tayo magiging sabihin na nating sisisihin, kasi, sabi ko, (may halong politika ito, eh.) Pero sige na, “this law was passed in 2006 with no objections from the House and from the Senate.” At ‘yung mga senador, yung mga congressman ngayon, marami diyan ay bumotong pabor dito sa batas na ito. Kaya sana, huwag tayo basta-basta magpadala na ang sisisihin ay si Senator Kiko Pangilinan. Maliwanag ‘yan na hindi tayo lamang ang nag-aproba nito, o sana maintindihan ng ating mga kababayan,” he recall.
Furthermore, in 2013, it was amended by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice, Sen. Chiz Escudero, who is now the Senate President, because according to him, there were gaps and shortcomings and it was addressed in the right way. Therefore, the Senator hopes that to the people who are asking for the amendment of 9344, they know that 9344 has already been amended by 10630, therefore R.A. 10360 is the amendment to 9344.
“Inamendahan natin noong 2013 noong ang chairman ng Committee on Justice sa Senate ay si Senador Chiz Escudero… si Senate President. Bakit inamendahan? Dahil nga nakita ang ilang kakulangan, at doon inilagay ‘yung mga nararapat. Kaya ‘yung mga nagsasabing amiyendahan ‘yung “9344,” sana alam nila o alamin nila na, “yes, tama kayo, amiyendahan.” In fact, inamendahan na ‘yung 9344 ng 10630. So, “RA 10630 is the amendments to the 9344,” he stressed.
The Senator also clarified that under the amendment, firstly, if an 18-15 yrs old is involved in serious offenses, he/she can be tried as an adult, can be punished, and can be imprisoned, therefore, there is no truth that if a minor commits serious offenses, he/she cannot be punished. Second, it is still the same as 15 and below who are liable for serious offenses.
“Maliwanag sa amendments (number 1): kapag 15-18 years old na may serious offenses, puwedeng litisin bilang adult at puwedeng parusahan at puwedeng ikulong bilang adult. So may parusa, hindi totoo na kapag menor de edad ay dapat pakawalan. (Number 2): May pananagutan din sa usapin ng 15 and below. Kapag 15 and below at nagkasala (serious offense), hindi dapat pinapakawalan. Mali na naman ‘yon. ‘Yung sinasabing pinapakawalan… ‘yung sinasabing yung mga magulang mismo ang naglalabas ng mga birth certificate, mali na naman ‘yon. ‘Yung mga nagpakawala ng bata na nagkasala (below 15), may pananagutan sa batas ‘yan. ‘Yung mga magulang na kinokonsinti ang ating mga anak, may pananagutan sa batas ‘yan. So, ang dami kasing nagsasabing ay dahil nga diyan sa batas na ‘yan, walang puwedeng parusa sa bata. “Fake news” po ‘yon. Huwag po tayong maniniwala n’on. Ang patunay nga, ‘yung mga Manguad—’yung mga kabataan na involved sa Manguad killing—nakakulong ngayon, “life imprisonment,” he clarified.
Meanwhile, on the other hand, regarding the 10-year-old criminal liability, the senator said that even he wants victims to get justice and suspects to be held accountable. Following this, the senator gave some situations related to the issue. According to him, not only a child should be held accountable if he commits crimes, but also the parents, community, and above all the government, because according to him, children commit the aforementioned violations of the law due to hardship, hunger, and fatigue.
“Tayo ulit. Gusto natin ng hustisya para sa mga naging biktima, at dapat talagang managot itong mga nagkasala. Malinaw ‘yan. Pero halimbawa, gusto natin na ang 10 years old, grade 4, kapag nakabase sa datos, ‘yung mga “children in conflict with the law”, ang profile nila ay mahihirap, walang trabaho ang mga magulang o kaya hiwalay, “broken family.” Kaya napipilitang magnakaw o gumawa ng hindi tama dahil hindi inaalagaan nang husto ng mga pamilya, kung kani-kaninong kamag-anak na lang iniiwan. 10 years old ‘yon. May pananagutan ang mga magulang na nagkulang. Kapag gutom ang bata at hindi makakain ng araw-araw at nauwi sa pagnanakaw dahil sa kahirapan, kasalanan lang ba niya ‘yon? O hindi ba kasalanan din ng mga magulang, kasalanan din ng komunidad, kasalanan din ng ating gobyerno? Dahil sa hirap, sa pagod, sa gutom, ay napipilitang magnakaw. So, ang malungkot dito, marami ang dahilan bakit nagkaroon ng “children in conflict with the law” pero ang gustong parusahan lang ay ‘yung bata. (Number 1 ‘yon). Tama rin po ‘yon na itong mga menor de edad, below 15 and below up to 12, ay nagkakasala. So, sinasabi ng batas, puwedeng “involuntary confinement” within 24 hours kapag ang kaso ay “serious offenses.” In other words, puwedeng mayroon pa ring parusa. Kasi, paulit-ulit kasing napaniwala na ang ating mga kababayan na walang parusa kapag menor de edad dahil sa batas. Eh, “fake news” ‘yon, hindi totoo. Sana tingnan ‘yung batas.”
Pangilinan also shared his conversation with officials from the Juvenile Justice Council and DSWD, where he was also surprised, because no matter how good the law is, they were surprised that the topic only comes up every election, the “Pangilinan Law” is getting hotter, so even though it was difficult and painful for Pangilinan to just accept it, but in what was mentioned during the interpellation with Senator Robin Padilla, he remembered another senator, Gwen Gatchallian, when she was still Mayor of Valenzuela, who fully implemented the Juvenile Justice Welfare Law that she created, and also established “Bahay Pag-asa,” which according to Gatchallian, 75-80% of individuals who entered “Bahay Pag-asa,” changed the course of their lives. Gatchallian added that according to Pangilinan, the law is good because it gives children another chance and also teaches them a lesson for their wrongdoings.
“Nagkausap din kami ng opisyal ng Juvenile Justice Council at ng DSWD. Nagtataka rin naman sila, ang sabi nila, maganda ‘yung batas pero napopulitika dahil nga nagtataka sila kung bakit tuwing eleksyon lamang lumalabas nang matindi.
Of course, may mga insidente at hindi natin puwedeng ipagkaila na may mga insidente talaga na involved ang mga kabataan, pero napansin nila, pagdating daw ng eleksyon, puro “Pangilinan Law,” puro pagsisisi sa akin. So, may hinahaluan na rin pong politika. Nakakalungkot man isipin at tanggapin, “but again, sige na.”
Ang sa akin din, ito’y nabanggit ko sa ating “interpellation” kay Senador Robin Padilla noong nakaraang araw. Si Senador Win Gatchalian, noong siya ay Mayor ng Valenzuela, “full implementation” ang ginawa niya ng Juvenile Justice Welfare Law. Nagtayo sila ng sariling Bahay Pag-asa at ang sinabi niya, “up to 80%, 75-80%” ng mga nailalagay sa Bahay Pag-asa ay nagbabagong-buhay.
“Maganda ang batas,” sabi niya. Nagkaroon ng dalawang pagkakataon ang ating mga anak. Kapag nagkasala, nabibigyan ng leksyon. At sabi niya, ‘yung mga napupunta sa Bahay Pag-asa, “contrary” sa mga “perception” ng iba, basta tama ang “implementation”… hindi “labas-pasok.” May mga “spiritual, moral, emotional guidance and counseling.” So, “it works, it is implemented properly.”
Kaya ang sabi ko nga, kung ganoon ang “findings” ng Juvenile Justice sa Bahay Pag-asa sa Valenzuela, hindi kaya ang problema ay hindi ‘yung batas kundi ‘yung pag-iimplementa ng batas? At handa tayong isulong ang dagdag na budget para madagdagan ang mga “Juvenile Justice Welfare Centers” o ang mga Bahay Pag-asa sa iba’t ibang parte ng ating bansa,” Pangilinan deliberately recall.
Finally, the Senator wants to avoid going back to the 10-year-old, he said, the solution to the aforementioned problem is to allocate funds to have proper implementation of the law, have “Bahay Pag-asa Centers,” additional funds for LGUs to ensure the implementation of the law.
