The Senate committee on justice and human rights is ready to submit to the plenary a measure suspending the continued implementation of the law.
Sen. Francis Escudero, justice committee chairman, said the resurgence of crimes principally committed by minors, the latest of which are the so-called “Hamog Boys” notorious in the vicinity of Makati, especially along EDSA in Guadalupe, made urgent the suspension of RA 9344.
The Senate committee proposed the suspension of the implementation of the provision of the 5-year-old Juvenile Justice Law to enable law enforcement agencies to go after teenage criminals.
Escudero said he is readying the committee report that will recommend the suspension of the provision in the law that exempts individuals below 15 years old from being arrested and charged with criminal offenses.
Escudero explained that the law will not be repealed altogether since it has good provisions on rehabilitation of young offenders.
“The age covered by the exemption will just be adjusted. It’s back to nine years old, which was in the old law,” the senator said, referring to the provisions of the Revised Penal Code as amended by the Child and Youth Welfare Code.
The senator made the stand following public concern over the snatching and attacks made by the so-called Batang Hamog on car owners, taxi drivers and passengers caught in traffic along major thoroughfares in Metro Manila.
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