ANGELES CITY – “Hindi sapat na counseling lang dahil nagdudulot ng matinding panic, disruption, at takot sa komunidad ang ginagawa nila. Susulat po tayo mismo sa PNP para masampahan ng appropriate charges ang mga nasa likod ng pagbabantang ito.”
Thus, Pampanga 1st District Rep. Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. urged a more draconian approach to the string of school violence threats and hoaxes in Pampanga in the past few days.
On July 25, a video circulated on social media showing what appeared to be a young man wearing a mask, threatening to commit violent acts – particularly, stabbing – against students of Cutud Elementary School in the city.
Personnel from the Philippine National Police were later able to identify and hold the perpetrators in custody – a group of juveniles who, reportedly, filmed and posted the video as a joke.
In the past few days, bomb threats were also made against schools in Barangays Atlu Bola, Mamatitang, San Joaquin, Sta. Ines, Tabun, Camatchiles, and Mangalit in Mabalacat City, prompting the Mabalacat City LGU to suspend classes in all public and private schools.
Making grave threats, such as threatening with the infliction upon the person, honor, or property of another of any wrongdoing amounting to a crime, is considered a criminal act under the Revised Penal Code.
Meanwhile, RA 9344 (Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006) states that a child older than 15 years old but younger than 18 shall be exempt from criminal liability and be subjected to an intervention program, unless they have acted with discernment, in which case, they shall be subjected to the appropriate proceedings.
Guidelines set by the Supreme Court define “discernment” as the “capacity of the child at the time of the commission of the offense to understand the difference between right and wrong and the consequences of the wrongful act.”
The task of ascertaining discernment is first done by a social worker, and then later by the court.
“Nananawagan din po tayo sa mga magulang, guardians, guro, at miyembro ng komunidad na bantayan at turuan ang ating mga anak at estudyante na ang pagbabanta ng karasahan ay hindi biro at tinuturing na krimen sa ilalim ng ating mga batas,” Lazatin said. Team Lazatin Media
