Senator Raffy Tulfo pushes separate detention for minors in heinous crimes

Senator Raffy Tulfo is calling for the urgent amendment of Republic Act No. 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, to secure funding for the creation of a separate detention facility for minors who have committed heinous crimes.

Speaking during the Senate Committee on Women and Children hearing on July 1, Tulfo stressed that it is insufficient to place Children in Conflict with the Law (CICLs) who are guilty of grave offenses in the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Bahay Pag-Asa centers.

He pointed out that these minors often undergo rehabilitation and intervention programs and are eventually released without fully grasping the consequences of their actions.

“Naniniwala ako na hindi sila dapat ihalo sa hardened criminals. Everybody believes that. Pero hindi rin dapat mawala ang mensahe na ang bawat aksyon ay may consequence.”

Tulfo continued: “Hindi yung nakikita ng mga bata na, ‘Ah, kapag ako ay nag-commit ng crime, pupunta ako sa Bahay Pag-Asa, at pagdating doon, magba-basketball kami, may pingpong… kumakain sila sama-sama, nagtatawanan.

“Pagdating sa gabi, nandoon sila sama-sama sa isang kwarto, mag-uusap-usap. Saan dito yung takot na maipapakita sa mga bata? They will think it’s excursion, camping. Dapat papakita natin na merong katapat na parusa ang bawat gagawin niyong kasalanan.”

His proposal gained support from Jennylyn Badoria, the mother of one of the students killed in the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City.

Tulfo also urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to explore supervised boot camps or structured immersion programs where reformed former Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) can share their experiences and conduct lectures for students.

Through these initiatives, he said, ex-PDLs can recount the hardships they endured in prison and how they managed to rebuild their lives to become productive members of society.

-Paraluman News