By Brian Campued
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged Congress to review the Republic Act (RA) No. 9344, or the “Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act,” noting that any reform should focus not only on lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility but also on building a more comprehensive juvenile justice system.
Remulla made the call during a press briefing at Camp Crame on Thursday following the June 22 fatal shooting incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Leyte involving 14- and 15-year-old suspects.
He stressed that there are minors who believe they cannot be held criminally liable because of their age, while there are criminal groups that have been observed exploiting the law by using minors in illegal activities.
Initial investigation on the Tacloban school shooting showed that the two children in conflict with the law (CICL) had reportedly discussed protections afforded by the law for minor offenders.
“I think age is not important. But cognizance and intent are the most important factors,” he said. “I strongly recommend to Congress that we work together to come up with a more comprehensive law on juvenile justice.”
Under RA 9344, children aged 15 and below are exempt from criminal liability and are instead subjected to intervention programs, while those above 15 but below 18 years old may be held criminally liable only if it is proven that they acted with discernment.
The DILG chief also pushed for responsible gun ownership as well as amendments to the country’s gun laws to impose stricter criminal liabilities on owners of firearms used by other individuals to commit crimes.
He cited the case of the 14-year-old suspect who allegedly used a gun that belonged to his police officer aunt, while the 15-year-old suspect had used a firearm supposedly registered to a Cebu-based security agency.
According to Sec. Remulla, the police officer would only be charged with malversation, as there is no “concomitant responsibility” for the gun owner if someone else uses their firearm to kill another person under existing laws.
“I recommend to Congress that they rewrite the IRR of gun ownership and the responsibility for holding firearms and to put a criminal aspect into the illegal use or illegal transfer of their guns,” he said. “Kailangan lahat ng may-ari ng baril, lahat na merong lisensyang humawak ng baril ay responsable sa kanilang pag-handle ng kanilang kagamitan.”
The DILG chief likewise called for a permanent ban on the violent video games, saying it could desensitize young people “into the elements of death, elements of violence, and elements of murder.”
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) on Tuesday temporarily banned GoreBox after police initially found that one of the CICL involved in the Tacloban shooting spree was an avid player of the online game.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), for its part, assured that it will work closely with the CICC for intensified monitoring of video games and online applications that may expose minors to violent behavior and safety risks.
PNP Chief PGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the move comes as the police examine possible connections between GoreBox and one of the Tacloban shooting suspects.
He said the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group will take the lead in the coordination not only with the CICC but also with other government agencies and stakeholders.
Nartatez Jr. likewise ordered a comprehensive review of the implementation of the existing firearms regulations in the country amid possible serial number duplication of one of the guns used in the shooting incident.
The PNP’s top cop said a thorough investigation is now being conducted to determine the people behind the modus, starting with the security agency and the people whose names appeared in the registration of the firearms. (with report from Ryan Lesigues / PTV News)
-jpv
