A chance to work

A new proposal to return the age of criminal liability to nine years old instead of 15 from Sen. Francis Escudero may be a major step backwards in the campaign to protect the rights of children.  But  recent events in Cebu and across the country may challenge that viewpoint.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, who authored the Juvenile Justice Law, said nothing had been done to support the campaign to rehabilitate juvenile delinquents and youths accused of crimes ranging from the petty to the heinous act of  murder.

Escudero was only one of several lawmakers who pushed to lower  the age of criminal liability to nine years old,  along with  Rep. Pablo Garcia of Cebu’s 2nd district.

Police often lament that children are being used by adult crime syndicates  as runners for drug deals and as beggars to solicit alms from passersby.

The recent Naga City murders where a 16-year-old boy admitted stabbing dead his pregnant mother and 5-year-old half-sister provided ammunition for those  in acting tough on  young offenders.

In his case, social workers evaluated the teenager and found that despite his minor age, he acted “with discernment,” and deserved to be tried in court as an adult.

The debate remains.  Would lowering the age of criminal liability result in a reduction of or outright elimination of crimes committed by youths? If one were to ask Pangilinan, the answer is a definite no.

His points are worth considering. Aside from a few cases, there is no hard scientific evidence supporting the theory that cracking down on juvenile delinquents will reduce or remove youth crimes.

The so-called “intervention” provided in the law for youth suspects to be guided by social work agencies, and other positive influences is not happening.

There are no facilities or long-term programs designed for troubled kids, no funds to build reformatory schools. When minors are arrested, the police just hand them over to social workers, who are overworked and stretched to do some so many other duties.

The law’s intention was to save youth offenders from being hardened by the country’s criminal justice system, which already does  poor job rehabilitating adult hoodlums.

Amid the stringent provisions of the country’s Penal Code,  inmates are supposed to be given a chance at rehabilitation and eventual acceptance into mainstream society.

Pangilinan was correct in saying that the public should give the law a chance to work not only to save themselves from dealing with youth suspects but to save these same youths from leading a life of crime.

Only when everything has been done by the government to give these youth offenders a chance to redeem themselves and yet they still persist in wrongdoing should the law be revisited for review and amendment.