Kiko Pangilinan says minors accountable under juvenile justice law

The author of the law that set the age of criminal liability at 15 years old said that, contrary to the views of its critics, the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act doesn't exempt children in conflict with the law from accountability.

In a statement, Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said minors who committed crimes were subject to "interventions," and it is illegal to release them without these.

Pangilinan made the remarks after Sen. Robin Padilla called for amendments to the juvenile justice law, including lowering the age of criminal responsibility.

Two teenagers on Monday morning shot up their school in Tacloban, killing three and wounding 11 others.

"May pananagutan. May proseso. May mga intervention upang matiyak na hindi na ito mauulit. May pananagutan din ang mga magulang. May tungkulin naman ang pamahalaan—sa pamamagitan ng DSWD at iba pang ahensya—na magbigay ng suporta sa mga biktima, kanilang mga pamilya," Pangilinan said.

"Iligal ang pakawalan ang menor de edad na nasangkot sa krimen at may parusa sa mga gagawa nito," he added.

Pangilinan called for a proper implementation of the law.

"Ang tunay na hamon ay hindi ang pagpapakalat ng takot at disinformation, kundi ang ganap na pagpapatupad ng batas at pagtiyak na may hustisya, accountability, at proteksyon para sa lahat ng bata," he added. –NB, GMA News