Drilon to Senate: Study first implementation of Juvenile Justice Law

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon. (File photo by EDWIN BACASMAS / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Senate must study first the implementation of the Juvenile and Justice Welfare Act (JJWA) or Republic Act 9344 before lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR), Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said on Saturday.

“It is clear to us now that the current law has not realized its full potential and the debates we are having now is a result of the poor or non-implementation of the law,” Drilon said over local radio station DzRH.

“Based on our hearings, I am convinced that there is nothing wrong with the current law or Republic Act 9344. The problems lie in the implementation of the law and that is what the amendments should focus on,” Drilon added.

Drilon then said the JJWA mandated the establishment of Bahay Pag-asa for children in conflict with the law in all provinces.

But, during the Senate hearing that tackled MACR, only 55 Bahay Pag-asa were ever constructed. Of the number, only 48.2 percent were operational as of June 2018.

Drilon lamented that the local government units (LGUs) were not even aware of their obligation to maintain a Bahay Pag-asa in their jurisdiction.

“This is a more pressing concern because there was serious neglect on the part of the local government units, which are mandated by the law to implement and maintain youth rehabilitation centers throughout the country,” the senator said.

With this, Drilon vowed to put an amendment in 2019 budget to provide funds for construction and maintenance of Bahay Pag-asa.

The Senate committee on justice headed by Senator Richard Gordon would recommend lowering MACR from 15 years old to 12. /jpv

READ: Senate panel to recommend lowering minimum age of criminal liability to 12