House committee on the welfare of children chairperson Barangay Health Wellness Party-list Representative Angelica Natasha Co said the Supreme Court guidelines on determining discernment of minors facing criminal cases “will be helpful to barangay officials and tanods, police officers, and social workers”.
Co said the guidelines clarify the “misconception among the public and law enforcers that minors cannot be held criminally liable. It is clear now that the exemption of minors from crimes is not absolute. The guidelines are strict and defined enough to make sure children are protected.”
“It is clear now that the exemption of minors from crimes is not absolute.”
The legislator thanked the Supreme Court for its “wisdom expressed in the guidelines.”
“The SC justices wisely addressed the difficult gray area wherein courts must determine whether minors accused or suspects in crimes understand the difference between right and wrong and the consequences of their actions,” the lawmaker said.
“I urge the DILG, DSWD, DepEd, and CHED to disseminate the SC guidelines to the barangays, schools, and news media for the information of the youth and their parents.”
She urged the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, and Commission on Higher Education “to disseminate the SC guidelines to the barangays, schools, and news media for the information of the youth and their parents.”
“The guidelines should be translated and annotated into Filipino, English, Arabic, and the regional languages to ensure everyone understands them well,” she concluded.
