Street Children in Catbalogan City Samar Threaten To Stab Jollibee Costumers If Not Given Food or Money

As young children, these street children in Catbalogan City, Western, Samar have learned to intimidate local residents and jollibee costumers who refused to give them food or money. They have deadly weapons that threaten and put the lives of other people at risk.

A photo of a street child who has a deadly weapon in Catbalogan, Samar

This photo is posted by a concerned citizen in Facebook to warn the local residents in Catbalogan City. The netizen has asked for the local government unit and policemen to act fast before these children can hurt or kill innocent people.

In a blog post of Mr. Alon Calinao Dy, he said “Senator Kiko Pangilinan is a principal author of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, but the problem of this law that youth offenders might escape prosecution and may not be held liable for their wrongdoings.”

In the Philippines, there are so many accounts that criminals have used children to perform their illegal activities because they know that children can easily get away with their crimes. I don’t understand why our laws do not penalize or release parents from their responsibilities to discipline their children so that they would avoid committing future crimes.

After the law had been implemented, reports showed that the number of youth offenders went up. Mr. Dy added “perhaps the intention of Pangilinan’s law is to create a lot of benefits for the youth but it has detrimental effects on children. Because of this law, children became aware that they are protected by the law, and so they can do whatever they want, without thinking of punishment.”

I always believe that people can change especially children, but one person cannot bring someone back from the dead. It should be the responsibilities of parents and guardians to teach their children good things in life. If children commit heinous crimes, I believe they should be held accountable for their actions. Committing crime and got away with it is a terrible thing that children should not follow.