Senator Raffy Tulfo is pushing for the immediate amendment of Republic Act No. 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, to provide funding for the establishment of a separate detention facility for minors who have committed heinous crimes.
During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Women and Children, Tulfo emphasized that it is not enough to simply place Children in Conflict with the Law (CICLs) who have committed heinous offenses in the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Bahay Pag-Asa facilities.
The legislator noted that these minors often undergo intervention and rehabilitation programs and are eventually released without realizing the consequences of their actions.
“Naniniwala ako na hindi sila dapat ihalo sa hardened criminals.”
“Naniniwala ako na hindi sila dapat ihalo sa hardened criminals. Everybody believes that. Pero hindi rin dapat mawala ang mensahe na ang bawat aksyon ay may consequence,” the lawmaker said.
“Hindi yung nakikita ng mga bata na, ‘Ah, kapag ako ay nag-commit ng crime, pupunta ako sa Bahay Pag-Asa, at pagdating doon, magba-basketball kami, may pingpong… kumakain sila sama-sama, nagtatawanan,” the senator explained.
“Pagdating sa gabi, nandoon sila sama-sama sa isang kwarto, mag-uusap-usap. Saan dito yung takot na maipapakita sa mga bata? They will think it’s excursion, camping. Dapat papakita natin na merong katapat na parusa ang bawat gagawin niyong kasalanan,” he stressed.
The proposal was supported by Jennylyn Badoria, the mother of one of the students killed in the shooting incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City on June 22.
“Study and consider implementing supervised boot camps or carefully designed immersion programs.”
Tulfo also recommended that the Department of Education (DepEd) study and consider implementing supervised boot camps or carefully designed immersion programs where reformed former Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) can share their life stories and conduct lectures for students.
Through these programs, they can discuss the hardships they experienced while in prison and how they were able to rebuild their lives and become productive members of society.
