MANILA — The Senate is set to undertake a sweeping review of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act amid mounting concerns over crimes involving minors, with lawmakers expected to examine whether the current minimum age of criminal responsibility should be lowered and whether rehabilitation programs for children in conflict with the law are working as intended.
The Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, chaired by Sen. Erwin Tulfo, will conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the implementation of the law, including proposals to reduce the age of criminal responsibility, the shortage of operational Bahay Pag-asa rehabilitation centers, and the accountability of parents whose children commit offenses.
Tulfo said the inquiry seeks to determine whether the law remains effective in addressing cases involving minors and whether intervention and rehabilitation programs mandated under the measure are being properly implemented.
“Are parents of these CICLs (children in conflict with the law) being held accountable enough? Are the rehabilitation facilities even existing, let alone working?” Tulfo said.
The review comes as the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality prepares to investigate last week’s school shooting in Tacloban City, including the possible influence of violent video games on the two teenage suspects.
According to Tulfo, his office has received numerous complaints from victims who believe the current implementation of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act has left them without adequate legal remedies.
Under the existing law, children are exempt from criminal liability under certain circumstances but remain subject to mandatory intervention and rehabilitation programs.
Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, principal author of the law, has maintained that the measure does not exempt children from accountability, stressing that they remain subject to intervention, counseling, and rehabilitation rather than outright release.
Tulfo said the committee will also determine whether the current minimum age of criminal responsibility of 15 remains appropriate.
Several lawmakers have proposed lowering the age threshold. Sen. Robinhood Padilla has filed a bill seeking to reduce it to 10 years old, while the Philippine National Police and several legislators have expressed support for lowering it to 12.
Tulfo said the Senate intends to consult a broad range of stakeholders before recommending any amendments to the law.
“This review will cover all bases. We are actively getting insights from law experts, law enforcement, social welfare groups, the church, medical professionals, and parents themselves. We need every perspective on the table because we are not just looking at the fine print of the law — we are fixing a broken reality on the ground,” Tulfo said./PN
