MANILA, Philippines - The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines on Monday expressed opposition to the impending passage of the amended Juvenile Justice Welfare Act of 2006 which lowers the age of minors for criminal liability.
Congress has already ratified Senate bill 3324 and House bill 6052 which give criminal liability to 15-year-old youth offenders while 12- year olds will be under the youth care facility under the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
President Benigno Aquino III will just sign the bill to become a law.
CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Youth executive secretary Father Kunegundo said instead of treating minors as criminals the DSWD should improve programs to help them.
"Kung mapipigilan at mabubuwag ng pamahalaan ang iba’t-ibang criminal elements sa lipunan ay mawawala ang impluwensiya at hindi magagamit ng mga grupong ito ang kamurahan sa isipan ng mga kabataan sa paggawa ng krimen.
"Palakasin ang batas na nagpaparusa sa mga nakakatandang criminal na kinasasangkapan ang mga menor de edad sa kanilang illegal na gawain," the prelate told Church-run Radyo Veritas.
Father Kunegundo also proposed that youth offenders should go rehabilitation and not be thrown into prison with hardened criminals.
Based on DSWD records, youth offenders had increased frp, ve already reached 10,094 from 2002 to 2010, with 1,130 coming from the National Capital Region.