The City Council of Puerto Princesa approved Resolution No. 477 requesting Congress to retain the criminal liability of children at 15 years old in wake of the House justice committee’s pegging the age at 12 years old in the proposed bill.
Councilor Maria Nancy Socrates, one of the authors, expressed concern saying that the mind of a 12-year- old child is still not fully developed therefore will not be able to discern over the crime.
“Wala pa po sa isip nila yan dahil lang rin po sa mga nakakatanda kung kaya sila nagagamit bilang drug mules, at kaya sila nakakagawa ng mga bagay na hindi tama, what should we do is to strengthen ang mga social services natin, family ties, good moral character. Ibalik dapat ang good moral and right conduct sa school,” she said.
The Justice Committee of the House of Representatives gave its approval to Republic Act 10630 and would bring down the age of criminal responsibility at 12 who will serious crimes such as murder, parricide, infanticide, serious illegal detention, car napping. Those found in violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be subjected to “mandatory confinement” at Bahay Pag-asa Rehabilitation center.
Palawan has two Bahay Pag-asa Youth Centers at the Provincial Agricultural Center Compound in Barangay Irawan and in Brgy. Mangingisda. The facilities can only cater 25 children and as of December 20, 2018 they already have 20 children in their custody.
“Pag naipaasa na ang batas na yan, madami talaga ang magiging problem. Hindi sufficient ang structure and ‘yung budget naming maapektohan at the same time magiging problem rin naming ang complete manpower. Isa rin sa problem is wala kaming psychologist,” Remy C. Beltran, Social Welfare officer IV and Division Chief of Child & Youth Welfare Division, said.