SENATOR Erwin Tulfo, chair of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, wants more “teeth” in existing laws as he sought a review of RA 10627 (Anti-Bullying Act of 2023) and RA 9344 (Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006) in the aftermath of a mass school shooting at the San Jose National High School, Tacloban City last June 22, involving two minor suspects that resulted to the death of their 3 schoolmates and the wounding of 20 others.
In a statement a day after the incident, Tulfo said his office is in close contact with the families of the victims to extend his support but also made clear that the time has come to further strengthen RA 10627 by giving it more “teeth.”
“Ang iniulat na dahilan ng pamamaril ng mga menor de edad na suspek ay bullying.
“Bagama’t hindi tama ang naging paraan nila para resolbahin ang bullying sa kanila, isa po itong nakakaalarma na hudyat para sa lahat ng mga eskwelahan at sa mga awtoridad.
“Lagyan na ng “pangil” ang Anti-Bullying Act,” Tulfo said.
In a follow-up statement on June 26, Tulfo said he has also started “consultations” criminal law experts, law enforcement, juvenile justice experts and social welfare agencies and groups as he prepares to review RA 9344, amidst call for the reduction of age of criminal suspects in the light of the Tacloban incident where the suspects are aged 14 and 15 years old respectively.
Under RA 9344, suspects aged between 18 years old and 15 years old are exempt from criminal liability except when they were found to have with “discernment.”
Suspects 15 years old and below, as in the case of the Tacloban shooters, are totally exempt from criminal liability but may undergo “intervention programs.”
RA 9344, which has been exploited and abused by criminals, including drug dealers, was principally authored by Senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan.
Tulfo’s colleague, Senator Robin Padilla, also reacting on the Tacloban shooting, has proposed amending RA 9344 by lowering the age of criminal liability of suspects between 10 years old and 15 years old.
Tulfo said that aside from tackling the lowering of age of crime suspects, he would also seek for a “balance” between the reformation and rehabilitation of young offenders and the safety of communities, and the availability of facilities to accomplish the intent of the law.
A well-known hard-hitting journalist before entering public service, Tulfo said he witnessed “firsthand” the “glaring gaps” in the implementation of RA 9344, an experience that he said was strengthened when he became President Marcos Junior’s Social Welfare and Development secretary in 2022.
“Even before I became a public servant, I witnessed the harsh realities of this law on the ground.
“For years, helpless victims of minor-led crimes flooded our public service shows who feel completely helpless because of the Juvenile law implementation,” he stressed.
According to Tulfo, his committee will be focusing on reviewing the lack of ‘Bahay Pag-Asa,’ (rehabilitation centers for young criminal offenders), the application of intervention programs and parental accountability.
“This review will cover all bases.
“We need every perspective on the table because we are not just looking at the fine print of the law—we are fixing a broken reality on the ground,” Tulfo said.