Eleazar: SK must help address juvenile crimes and not just hold ball games

FILE PHOTO: Retired PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar. INQUIRER PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Aside from organizing basketball games and other sports competitions, leaders in the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) should take a “more proactive” role in addressing juvenile delinquency.

This was the pitch made by retired Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, who is running for senator via the May 2022 elections under the tandem of Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

Eleazar said he would raise the participation of youth council leaders nationwide to resolve youth issues, especially crimes involving young people.

“Bukod sa mga paliga at iba pang palaro sa barangay, marami pang aktibidad na puwedeng gawin para may mapagkaabalahan ang mga kabataan na maaaring magpaunlad ng kanilang talento at kakayahan,” Eleazar said in a statement on Wednesday.

(Aside from initiating basketball games and other barangay sporting events, there are other activities that the youth can do to develop their talents and capabilities.)

The Partido Reporma senatorial bet stressed that he supports Lacson’s proposal that parents should be held responsible for the criminal offenses of their children.

“Kung ma-involve ang isang bata sa krimen, malamang sa malamang ay pinabayaan at hindi sila ginabayan ng tama ng kanilang mga magulang,” he pointed out.

(If a child gets involved in a crime, there is a high probability that they were neglected and not guided properly by their parents.)

Eleazar said his stand on the matter is part of his plan to “improve and strengthen” the implementation of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, a law that seeks to provide proper care, protection, and treatment of juveniles in conflict with the law.

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