Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Thursday, June 25, called on Congress to amend the country’s Juvenile Justice Law, saying it should focus more on a minor offender’s intent and level of discernment rather than age alone.
Speaking in a press briefing at Camp Crame, Remulla said the recent deadly shooting involving two students, aged 15 and 14, at a high school in Tacloban City highlights gaps in Republic Act No. 9344.
Remulla said the current framework allows some minors to believe they can evade accountability due to age-based protections. He cited observations from authorities that some young suspects are aware of legal limitations and act accordingly.
“This is the infirmity of the Juvenile Justice Act,” Remulla said, noting that some minors assume they will not face consequences because of their age.
The interior chief also warned that criminal groups have exploited the law by recruiting minors for illegal activities, including drug trafficking, because they are less likely to face prosecution.
Law enforcement agencies, he said, have documented cases where children as young as 14 are used as couriers. Under the law, children aged 15 and below are exempt from criminal liability and are instead placed under intervention programs.
Remulla stressed that reforms should not center solely on lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility but on creating a more comprehensive system that evaluates whether a child understood the consequences of their actions.
“I think age is not important. Cognizance and intent are the most important factors,” he said, adding that authorities should determine whether a minor acted with full awareness and deliberate intent.
Under existing provisions, minors aged above 15 but below 18 may only be held criminally liable if proven to have acted with discernment.
Remulla said he would work with lawmakers to review and strengthen the law, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that protects children while ensuring accountability.
“I strongly recommend to Congress that we work together to come up with a more comprehensive law on juvenile justice,” he said.
Investigations into the Tacloban school shooting remain ongoing.
