Congress approves jail time for criminal children

Sen. Francis Pangilinan: Mandatory confinement for children aged 12 to 15 years who commit heinous crimes and are repeat offenders. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Children between 12 and 15 years old who commit serious crimes such as murder, robbery, abduction and rape shall now be confined in a government facility once President Aquino signs the amended Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act passed by Congress on Wednesday.

In the penultimate session day of the 16th Congress, Sen. Francis Pangilinan secured the ratification of the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed changes to the country’s juvenile justice statutes.

“There will be mandatory confinement” for children aged 12 to 15 years who commit heinous crimes and are repeat offenders, Pangilinan said during questioning by colleagues on the proposed measure.

“The period will be determined by the court but it cannot be less than one year,” he added.

Under the present law, authorities who arrest underage offenders are required to immediately release them to their parents or guardians if they are under 15 years old.

But Pangilinan said that under the amended law, serious offenders in the 12-15 age brackets are deemed neglected children who must be placed in a youth care facility and given the necessary intervention.

“The age of criminal responsibility is retained at 15 years of age. However, following the Supreme Court rule on the commitment of children, the minimum age of children committed to a youth care facility or a Bahay Pagasa shall be 12 years old,” the senator explained.

The amendments also called for the establishment of youth care facilities or Bahay Pagasa in each province and highly urbanized city.