A Heart-rending Carnage

THE issue of lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility has become one of the major issues which occupied both Houses of Congress lately. There was even a proposal to lower the same at nine years old which was met with strong opposition. Then there was the proposal to lower it to 12 years old which was acceptable to some legislators but others contend that 15 years old is just the right age. As a lawyer, however, I believe that all these debates is entirely an exercise of uselessness. The provisions of the applicable and pertinent existing law, to wit: the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, if fully and effectively implemented, already provides the safeguards for the criminal responsibility of minors. We believe that there is no need for the Courts and the Prosecution arms of the government as well as the Public Attorney’s Office to go beyond the provisions of said law. Under existing law, age 18 is considered the age of majority, and if he or she is found to have violated any law he can be incarcerated. However, a child of 15 years of age or below who commits any criminal act cannot be incarcerated but instead he/she will have to be committed to a reformatory institution for rehabilitation unless he or she is a recidivist in which case he/she may be committed to jail while the case is on trial. But even then he/she should be in a separate cell from hardened criminals.

This writer commiserates with the innocent victims of the bombing of the Cathedral of Mount Carmel in Jolo,

Sulu last Sunday. The heart rending carnage of 21 persons who died on the attack is claimed by authorities to have been perpetrated by terrorists. As a consequence, President DU30 reportedly ordered the military operations and bombing of Jolo to ferret out the perpetrators.

According to the Comelec’s election calendar, the election period and gun ban start from January 13 to June 12 while the campaign period for local officials starts March 30 to May 11, and for senators February 12 to May 11. It is regrettable, however, that even as of this writing some local and senatorial candidates have already waged their campaign. A case in point is one senatorial candidate who is perceived to be a presidential favorite has been tagging along with President DU30 in the latter’s public speaking engagements and being introduced as senatorial aspirant.

TRIVIA:

Thru this column, the AdeNU high school class ‘54 is reminded of its meeting this coming February 5 at 3:00pm at Bob Marlin Resto-Bar.

The annual elections of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Chapter Board of Officers is slated on February 23 per IBP Chapter By-Laws. The casting of votes shall be from 8:00am to 12:00 noon.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:

“THE PAST CANNOT BE CHANGED. THE FUTURE

IS YET IN YOUR POWER.”

ANONIMOUS

FOR OUR WORD OF LIFE:

“DO NOT BE CONQUERED BY EVIL BUT CONQUER EVIL WITH GOOD.”

ROMANS 16:6