MANILA – Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development chairperson Sen. Erwin Tulfo said his panel will conduct a comprehensive review of the implementation of Republic Act No. 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, citing what he described as significant gaps in its enforcement.

In a report, it said that Tulfo announced the review following recent high-profile crimes involving minors, including a school shooting in Tacloban City and separate stabbing incidents in Negros Occidental and Cavite.

The senator said the review aims to address weaknesses in the law’s implementation while ensuring justice for victims and rehabilitation opportunities for children in conflict with the law.

“I have repeatedly raised the alarm about the implementation of this law because on a practical sense, there are really glaring gaps in its implementation,” Tulfo said.

He said concerns over the law predated his entry into public office.

“Even before I became a public servant, I witnessed the harsh realities of this law on the ground. For years, helpless victims of minor-led crimes flooded our public service shows who feel completely helpless because of the Juvenile law implementation,” he said.

Tulfo also noted that he had been questioning the implementation of the law as early as 2019, particularly the lack of funding for Bahay Pag-asa facilities and the application of the current age of criminal responsibility.

He added that his experience as secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development exposed him to what he described as systemic shortcomings in implementing the law.

According to Tulfo, the Senate inquiry will examine the shortage of operational Bahay Pag-asa facilities, the effectiveness of intervention programs for Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) and Children at Risk (CAR), as well as the enforcement of parental accountability.

The review will also cover provisions of the law, including the current age threshold for criminal liability.

“Is the age threshold on criminal liability still realistic given the signs of the times? Are parents of these CICLs being held accountable enough? Are the rehabilitation facilities even existing, let alone working?” Tulfo said.

He said the committee will seek recommendations from legal experts, law enforcement agencies, social welfare organizations, the Church, medical professionals and parents before proposing possible changes.

“This review will cover all bases. We are actively getting insights from law experts, law enforcement, social welfare groups, the church, medical professionals, and parents themselves. We need every perspective on the table because we are not just looking at the fine print of the law—we are fixing a broken reality on the ground,” he said.