Are parents of viral street kids liable?

A video of a group of teenagers harassing and stealing from commuters in a jeepney recently went viral on social media.

The incident, which occurred at EDSA Extension corner Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City last Saturday, sparked a debate on whether street begging should be considered a crime, and whether the minors had criminal liability.

On Unang Hirit on Wednesday, Atty. Gaby Concepcion said that the parents of the minors are liable to pay for damages caused by their children, but the children themselves have no criminal liability under the law.

"Alam naman natin na dahil sa Republic Act 9344, walang criminal liability ang mga menor de edad, lalo na sa 15 years old at below. Kahit na sabihin nating liable ang mga magulang, good luck na lang kung may mga pambayad ang mga ito. Because I'm sure hindi naman sapat ang kinikita, otherwise these children will not be roaming around," she said.

The children involved in the incident will likely undergo counseling and treatment, she said, pursuant to the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.

In some instances, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) can revoke the parental authority of the parents and take the children into their custody, if proven that the parents have no means of caring for their child.

"So by definition, 'pag yung bata namamalimos, it is considered a neglected child. Sa ganitong sitwasyon maaari talagang kunin ang bata ng DSWD at maaring matanggalan ng parental authority ang mga magulang nito, precisely because mukhang hindi naman niya kayang palakihin ng maayos ang kanilang mga anak," Concepcion said.

Anti-begging law

There are actually laws against mendicancy or begging, as well as aiding and abetting mendicancy under Presidential Decree no. 1563,  or the Mendicancy Law of 1978 signed during the administration of former President Ferdinand Marcos.

Concepcion said that this law aimed to eradicate widespread street begging in the country.

"Actually merong batas, ito ay ang Presidential Decree no. 1563, ito ay aimed to eradicated widespread street begging in the country. So ito since Presidential Decree sa panahon ni dating Pangulong Marcos, ito ay 1978 pa pero hindi pa nare-repeal at nare-revoke ang batas na to," she said.

"At dahil magpa-Pasko na magiging issue na naman ito dahil talagang dumadami ang namamalimos sa kalye pag padating na ang pasko. Either dumadami sila dahil walang pasok ang mga bata kaya gumagala sa kalye, Christmas vacation, or dumadami sila dahil mas giving ang mga tao pag pasko na," she continued.

Mendicants are defined as able-bodied adults, who have the capacity to work but choose instead to resort to street begging.

Under the law, these individuals must be fined, at most, P500.

"Siyempre nung 1978 malaking halaga 'to pero inflation many times over since then. At meron din kulong ng period not exceeding 2 years sa discretion ng korte. Kung habitual mendicant, ibig sabihin nahuli na dati at paulit-ulit bumabalik, may fine not exceeding P1000...or imprisonment for a period not exceeding four years," Concepcion said.

There is also penalty for those who give alms to street dwellers.

"Theoretically ang taong nagbibigay ng limos ay guilty rin sa ilalim ng PD na ito. Ang tawag dito ay aiding at abetting mendicancy. So pag nagbibigay po ng limos sa mendicant, exploited infant at minors, syempre itong mga minors hindi na pwedeng hulihin na... 'wag kayo mabahala kasi sa ngayon P20 ang aiding at abetting mendicancy," she added. —Jessica Bartolome/JST, GMA News