Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Tuesday debunked misconceptions surrounding the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Law, clarifying that minors who break the law are not exempt from legal consequences.
His statement comes amid intense public discussion following a deadly shooting incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City.
Pangilinan addressed the widespread rumors claiming that underage offenders escape punishment entirely due to their age bracket.
“Mayroon talagang accountability sa ilalim ng batas. Marami kasi ang nagkakalat ng disinformation, o maling impormasyon, na pagkamenor de edad ay walang pananagutan,” Pangilinan said in a livestream on his social media account.
“In fact, mga bata mismo ang nagsasabi, gawa na rin siguro ng maraming mga ikinakalat na maling impormasyon, na pag bata at nagkasala ay walang pananagutan, hindi pwede silang managot, sila ay dapat pinapakawalan etc., at maliwanag hindi iyan ang sinasabi ng batas,” he added.
The lawmaker firmly stated that releasing minor offenders back into society contradicts the explicit provisions of the law.
He explained that for heinous crimes such as homicide and rape, the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Law mandates the involuntary confinement of the involved minors for at least one year.
“Tatanggalin ang kalayaan ng korte, ng mahistrado. Ang minimum ay one year. Pwedeng maging two years, pwedeng maging three years, depende sa magiging progreso ng kanyang kaso. So, uulitin natin, hindi dapat pinapakawalan ang mga menor de edad na nagkasala,” he furthered.
Turning his attention to the Tacloban school shooting, Pangilinan stressed that the two male suspects—aged 14 and 15—hold criminal liability and must remain in state custody.
“Uulitin natin, hindi totoo at hindi tama na sabihin itong mga nagkasala ngayon sa kasong ito sa Tacloban ay dapat pakawalan. Kontra sa batas yan. At pag pinakawalan sila, mananagot sila. Meron silang criminal liability, yung mga nagpapakawala ng mga menor de edad na nagkasala,” he continued.
“So maliwanag po yun. Huwag po tayong maniniwala sa mga hindi tamang impormasyon,” he added.
During the livestream broadcast, Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council Executive Director Tricia Clare Oco backed the senator’s statements.
She noted that underage offenders are subject to structured rehabilitation protocols, which include mandatory enrollment in intensive intervention schemes inside Bahay ng Pag-asa (House of Hope) centers.
“Structured yun na talagang susundin niya yan araw-araw habang nandoon siya para ma-rehabilitate siya,” Oco said.