Trouled kids need help first
Funny that a move is snowballing to amend the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 which exempts minors aged 15 and below of any criminal liability.
The demand for a review was brought about by several cases of minors involved in the killing of their parents.
While I understand this sentiment and sympathize with relatives of the crime victims I am still convinced that the law should be given a chance to work.
The provision exempting minors 15 years old and below from criminal liability is based on scientific study, not the whims and caprices of the author of the bill, Sen. Pangilinan.
We should focus instead on fully implementing the law that seeks the genuine rehabilitation of children involved in crime. Local governments are supposed to establish centers for children in conflict with the law but local officials object to this. They, like the police, would rather have these children arrested and placed in jail. But we have tried this arrangement before and the children-inmates just became worse.
Basically, children are what they are – a reflection of the influences of the family and community they grew up in. I’d like to ask parents how well their offspring are doing. Those who take care of their kids find them turning out to be good citizens.
Unfortunately many children in conflict with the law are abandoned or were neglected by their parents or subject to abuse. They need our attention and care, not condemnation.
I am therefore asking our community to stand up for these children and help them change for the better instead of throwing them into oblivion.
Handling children in conflict with the law is a great challenge that requires sacrifice, especially those who have been traumatized by neglect and abuse.
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Leonardo Chiu, one of the consultants of Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama, isn’t having an easy time getting his consultancy contract renewed by the city council, which deferred action on it.
There is no question that Nards is highly qualified to be a City Hall consultant, where his services are engaged as a speech writer and political risk analyst.
I know him to be a frank person who doesn’t mince words when his opinion is asked. He’s just misunderstood. Nevertheless, he’s an asset to the office of the mayor and to Mayor Rama. But Nards should be diplomatic in his dealings especially with a hostile city council.
The city council should have respected the mayor’s choice of adviser based on trust and confidence enjoyed by the job holder. I just hope the councilors give Nards some leeway considering his health condition.
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I still believe that flyovers are needed for a developed city like Cebu but the question is what type of flyover should we build?
In Bangkok, flyovers are long and wide stretches called skyways. Those in Cebu City are short two-lane overpasses that don’t solve traffic congestion. The best thing to do is for the government to come up with a transportation master plan to guide where flyovers or skyways should be placed.
The city has to rationalize the traffic situation and approach it holistically instead of acting without the benefit of study. As a university faculty member, our experience shows that it’s best to undertake a study first then validate it through implementation. I hope this experience can help our politicians deal with the recent controversy.
