FOR ARRESTED CHILDREN

TO support the implementation of R.A. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Regional Juvenile Justice and Welfare Committee (RJJWC) will construct more ‘Bahay Pag-asa’ (BP) in the region.

A BP is a 24-hour child-caring institution that offers short term residential care for ‘children in conflict with the law‘ (CICL) who are 1) above 15, but less than 18 years of age, and awaiting court disposition; 2) above 12 to 15 years of age who committed serious crime with commitment order issued by the court; 3) above 12 to 15 years of age who are repeat offenders; and 4) above 12 to below 18 years of age who are considered to be neglected, abandoned, or abused.

In Region 1, the Philippine National Police Region 1’s data shows that top five offences of CICL from Jan. to Dec. 2015 were rape (125 cases), theft (69), violation of RA9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (66), physical injury (59), and robbery (56).

According to social worker Jocelyn Mariano of DSWD Region 1, BP enables the separation of children from the regular offenders and provides them temporary home where they can be rehabilitated.

“Ibig sabihin, walang bata sa kulungan,” said Mariano during the media forum last week in Dagupan City.

She said the national government has allotted P400 million for the project and construction of the houses in the country has already started last year.

As of June 2015, there are only 13 operating BPs, four soon to be operational while two have ceased operations.

A BP is managed by a multi-disciplinary team composed of a social worker, a psychologist/mental health professional, a medical doctor, an educational guidance counsellor, and a member of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC). The staff will work on the individualized intervention plan with the child and the child’s family.

Once a CICL has responded positively to the rehabilitation program, the minor will be released.

Atty. Mamilo Royulada, the Dagupan District Public Attorney, said once CICL completes his/her intervention program, his/her case will be dismissed and he/she will have no criminal record.

Royulada said girls (CICL) have to be committed in Bulacan since there is no center in the region

RA9344 provides that children 15 years of age and under are exempted from criminal liability and those above 15 (plus one day) and below 18 years of age are exempt unless they act with discernment -which is defined as the mental capacity to understand the difference between right and wrong and its consequences. (Johanne Macob)

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