Senator Raffy Tulfo is pushing to amend the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act to provide funding for separate detention facilities for minors who commit heinous crimes.
During a Senate hearing, Tulfo said children facing serious criminal charges should not simply be placed in Bahay Pag-Asa facilities before eventually returning to society.
“Naniniwala ako na hindi sila dapat ihalo sa hardened criminals. Everybody believes that. Pero hindi rin dapat mawala ang mensahe na ang bawat aksyon ay may consequence,” Tulfo said.
He added, “Hindi yung nakikita ng mga bata na, ‘Ah, kapag ako ay nag-commit ng crime, pupunta ako sa Bahay Pag-Asa… They will think it’s excursion, camping. Dapat papakita natin na merong katapat na parusa ang bawat gagawin niyong kasalanan.”
Tulfo also urged the Department of Education to study supervised boot camps or school immersion programs where reformed former persons deprived of liberty can share their experiences to discourage students from committing crimes.IMT
