DSWD & juveniles

THE personalities prefer to be “confidential,” while their narration regarding my subject are scalding realities swept under the rug and requiring legislative intervention. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) doing a “Pilate” with what American law enforcement calls, as “juvys.”

There was a period when court judges were granted the authority to “punish” minors and juvenile delinquents (JD) so long as the bench determined that the child “acted with discernment” or was a recidivist. Jurisprudence referenced from foreign experience validated the phenomenon of children being tried as “adults,” particularly when involved in serious crimes.

The problem then was that law enforcement would detain minors, pending trial or final judgement, with adult suspects and hardened criminals, due to the lack of juvenile facilities. Incarcerating youth offenders with adults is a bad mix. The introduction of the “exempting law” on those 15 years old and below (Juvenile Justice & Welfare Act of 2016) was a humanitarian intercession for “Children in Conflict with the Law.” However, should not the better alternative be more appropriations for youth detention and rehabilitation centers nationwide?

To this day, there is legislative resistance to the Duterte administration’s initiative to lower the age of legal culpability, if not restore it to the tried and tested practice under the old Revised Penal Code. The quandary in priorities over youth issues may be gleaned from the 4Ps program (R78.2 billion for 2017) to encourage poor families to send their kids to school, etc. The reality on the ground is DSWD turns over a young offender to identified religious orders with a smile, rice, sardines, and a good riddance! The DSWD is never heard from again. The religious-order is saddled with the problem. The same practice is employed by crooked city officials increasing budgets for JD centers administered by the religious as fig leaf to pocket part of the donation/money. *** The search for ‘“The Ten Outstanding Cebuano Award” (TOCA) is on. Now on its 17th year, TOCA aims to honor outstanding Cebuanos in their contributions, role in community/ nation-building. Award categories are: Entreprenuership, Management, Government Service, Engineering, Medicine, Law, and Community Service. Nomination forms are available tru the office of Executive Director Engr. Greg Senining, tel. 032-516-0115, 0915-467-4943, 0929-130-5369, 0943-436-4486.