Children’s Playing Behind the Cold Bars?

“Ang Kabataan ay ang Pag-asa ng Bayan” Where did it go?

Good day, readers! I can’t believe that I’m already on my 5th blog. Are you guys enjoying my blogs? I hope you are. Speaking of my blogs, as you notice, I’ve been writing about personal matters but in this blog, I’ll be writing about one of the biggest issues, the Filipino people dealt with.

Do you have a little brother or little sister that probably ages between 9-13 years old? How about your cousins? nieces? nephews? Did you know that the age of criminal liability was planned to lower down at 9 years old? That sounds alarming, right? Can you imagine those young children playing behind that cold bars?

Just recently, my teacher gave us the chance to know more about the Juvenile Justice Act, also known as the Age of Criminal Liability, which was proposed to lower down the age of criminal responsibility to 9-12 years old. It was suggested by Rep. Doy Leachon. I also saw how devastating the situation of the children through a documentation and a music video. It was so disappointing because the children in the prison were not fine. I don’t think I can see my sister or my cousins in that position if they commit crime in the future. I’m not telling that they will but by the look of the place and the food they eat? It’s just alarming.

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I have a little sister who’s in her 8th year here on Earth. I also have several cousins that are younger than me ages from 8 to 15 years old. And I was worried when the act was suggested in the House of Representatives because I can’t imagine my loved ones behind that cold bars because they committed a sin that they didn’t mean to do. I think they should lower down the age but they should have to make sure that the facilities and the location of the “Bahay Pagasa” was clearly established. Because the lower the age of criminal liability, the higher the number of children that they gonna arrest. Also, for the children not to be scared after they commit crime. The main reason why they are afraid because they know that their situation is even worse than they expected.

The situation of the children that usually commit crimes is due to poverty. It was also stated by a child that was interviewed in the documentation we watched. Oh! I forgot to tell you guys that thay child was in jail because he robbed 6 sardines for their food. Although the child really violated the law, they should show some pity and put him in Bahay Pagasa not in that messy jail. They should be given a chance to be better but in Bahay Pagasa so that they will be properly handled by the social workers. The situation of the child should be an eye-opener to everyone, especially the government, to focus more on the problem in poverty in our country.

It was disapponting but I think those children should be given a chance to be better. They should lower the age but make the Bahay Pagasa more like a home for children not a prison. Because if my loved ones or my cousins commit crime? I would love to teach them a lesson but in a very gentle way. Yes, I know, they should be disciplined but they should do it in a nice way not by combining them with adult prisoners because that will just trigger them to stress and say to themselves that they are some kind of failure or they don’t have a second chance. Just like the theme that was shown in the music video of “Isang Pagkakataon Pa”, the children that committed crime should be given a chance to be better through the help of the people around them. Bahay Pagasa should be their home not the place they are scared to go to.

This topic is very sensitive but I think it should be widely spread in our country. It should be understood by the government so that they should make a movement or a solution for this topic. With this, I now understand the state and the reasons of the children who committed a crime why they did that. I am now inspired to volunteer in some social welfare facilities. I also realized how important to guide children as they grow older. By now, I am confident to say that I will be more patient with my cousins and my sister. I am hoping that this situation will be better someday.

I would love to recommend those documentaries and videos about the Juvenile Justice Act because this topic opens several issues that are rarely talked by Filipinos. I know that this act is very close to the hearts of every Filipino because we really love children and such. That’s why I am a bit curious why this issue was not known by some Filipino people especially the old ones.