Orientation on Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act 2006 held

By RACHEL ANN M. VILLEGAS, (KIMRO)
August 24, 2006

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region VIII in coordination with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) conducted an Orientation on RA 9344 otherwise known as the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act 2006 last August 18, 2006, this city.

The City Social Workers and Municipal Social Workers from Bato, Calubian, Tanauan, Mayorga, and Biliran participated this advocacy campaign towards a better understanding of the essentiality and the vital role they play in the enforcement of this law.

Fiscal Ma. Liza M. Jorda, resource speaker of the orientation said that under this new law a child in conflict with the law who is fifteen (15) years of age or under at the time of the commission of the offense would be exempt from criminal liability. Criminal charges can be filed against those ages 15-18 years old, but only if they are found to have committed the offense “with discernment,” that is, they were aware that what they were doing was wrong.

“However, minor law offenders will be admitted in a DSWD rehabilitation facility where he will undergo counseling and psychosocial care and be subjected to an appropriate intervention program of the local social welfare and development office. Thus, social workers take part on this challenge to be observant and practicing the prevention, rehabilitation, diversion and reintegration - all for the benefit of the child in conflict with the law,” she further stressed.

RA 9344 list the procedures to be followed by a law enforcer in taking the child into custody as well as rules while the child is under initial investigation, prosecution, bail, detention pending;

Once a child is taken into custody and is determined to be 15 years old and below, the authority who had initial contact with the child shall immediately release him to the custody of his parents, guardian, or nearest relative and notify the local social welfare officer who shall determine the appropriate programs for the child in consultation with guardians.

If the child has no guardian or they refuse to take him, the child may be released to: a registered NGO or religious organization, barangay official or member of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children, or the local DSWD officer.

DSWD-OIC Regional Director, Mrs Letecia Corillo in a message said that “Really this law is towards a dream of having a humane society”.