Senator Chiz Escudero urged Congress to reassess the country’s juvenile justice laws in the wake of the recent school shooting in Tacloban, saying no human‑made statute is “perfect or untouchable” and must be revised when no longer responsive to current realities.
Escudero, who co‑authored Republic Act No. 9344 in 2006 and its amendatory law Republic Act No. 10630 in 2013, said his long involvement in crafting the juvenile justice framework obliges him to support a fresh, evidence‑based review amid fresh debates on juvenile accountability, school safety gaps, and gun access.
“Walang perpektong mambabatas na alam ang lahat para makagawa ng batas na hindi na pwedeng baguhin habang buhay.”
“Matagal na akong mambabatas at palagi kong sinasabi (na) iisang batas lamang ang inukit sa bato at galing sa Diyos, at ‘yon ang hindi natin pwedeng baguhin. Lahat ng iba pang batas, sinulat lang sa papel … galing ‘yon sa tao. Walang perpektong mambabatas na alam ang lahat para makagawa ng batas na hindi na pwedeng baguhin habang buhay,” the veteran legislator said at the conclusion of a two‑part edition of his Chiz Wiz podcast tackling the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.
The seasoned lawmaker noted that even the framers of the 1987 Constitution included mechanisms for amendment, recognizing that no law can anticipate all future problems.
“Kinikilala nila na hindi nila angkin ang lahat ng talino para sagutin ang mga problemang noong sinulat nila ‘yon,” the senator said.
According to Escudero, revisiting the law should not be seen as an admission of error but as a necessary response to changing circumstances.
“Dapat bukas kaming lahat na mambabatas sa anumang pagbabago.”
“Dapat bukas kaming lahat na mambabatas sa anumang pagbabago at tingnan ang pagkakataon para pagandahin, ayusin, iwasto, pabilisin, at tiyakin na mas maayos ‘yung mga batas na ating ipapasa alang‑alang sa interes ng ating bansa, mga kababayan, at siyempre ang mga kabataang Pilipino,” he said.
Responding to questions from his podcast guests, he clarified that RA 9344 and RA 10630 already contain accountability, intervention, and rehabilitation mechanisms for children in conflict with the law, contrary to claims that minors “cannot be punished”.
Escudero said he supports a “full‑cycle review” of the juvenile justice system to address gaps in implementation and strengthen measures that protect public safety while upholding the principles of juvenile justice.
“Ang batas ay para sa tao. Kung hindi na tumutugon sa pangangailangan ng panahon, tungkulin naming ayusin at iakma ito,” he concluded.
