Duterte slams Pangilinan's juvenile law: It promotes youth crime

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3) - President Rodrigo Duterte blamed Senator Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan's Juvenile Justice Law for encouraging youth to commit crimes.

Speaking before children as young as four years old at the Investiture of the  Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) on Monday, Duterte said that Pangilinan's law paved way for around five or six generations of young people who committed drug-related crimes.

"Now na malaki na sila [that they're older], we have produced people who are of criminal minds. And that is why it is hard to stop the drug problem now," he noted.

Pangilinan authored Republic Act 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, which raises the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) from nine to 15.

After his ordination as Chief Scout, Duterte explained to his audience of four- to 10-year-olds,  that the reason behind rampant criminality is lack of respect for the law.

"It's because of that Pangilinan law. Generations of labas-pasok [in-and-out of jail], using these guys as couriers of shabu [crystal meth]. You cannot arrest them, 15 years old. They can be used and reused and utilized," he said.

The President also encouraged the boys to join the ROTC program and the military to develop respect for the law.

"The missing link between [this generation] at generation natin is the fear to violate the law. Wala na 'yun [It's not there anymore]. Even the sense of obedience, wala na [it's gone]," he explained.

Duterte told the scouts that he will kill in order to protect the future generations.

RA 9344 states that if children are caught in possession of illegal substances, the social welfare department must take them into custody for rehabilitation.

Allies of the president in the Lower House, including House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, tried to amend RA 9344 to lower MACR back to nine years old, but the bill was rejected in November last year.


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