ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines (PNA) — As part of his proposed amendment of Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act, Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Jerry Treñas is mulling possible criminal liability for parents with children caught engaging in illegal activities. Treñas said he is now finalizing his proposed bill to amend said law.

He lamented that there are parents who allow criminal elements to use their minor children in exchange for money, especially in selling of illegal drugs.

He added that he, being a former mayor and now a congressman, is aware of the situation where even elementary grade pupils are already utilized in various forms of illegal acts. In addition to criminal liability for parents Treñas said he will also look into the possibility of dropping the minimum age of criminal liability from 18 to 15 years old.

Section 6 of RA 9344 states that “a child 15 years of age or under at the time of the commission of the offense shall be exempt from criminal liability.”

Also those “above 15 but below 18 years old shall likewise be exempt from criminal liabilityand be subjected to an intervention program, unless he /she has acted with discernment.”

Treñas stressed that Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman’s statement during a recent visit to Iloilo City that the agency will not support any move to amend the law “was only an opinion.”

GOVERNOR SINGS XMAS CAROLS

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Philippines (PNA) — Negros Oriental Governor Agustin Perdices joyfully sang with the Vox Orphanurum, a choir composed of orphaned children, during the formal public lights-on ceremony of the city’s 40-foot giant double–helix spiral Christmas tree as part of the Pasko sa Sidlakan Ko 2010.

The governor led the ringing of the bell, signaling the switching of lights while Vice Governor Roel Degamo led the ceremonial climb of the giant Christmas tree during the weekend activity at the Sidlakang Negros Village here.

Also in the celebration were Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, Philippine National Police Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas and other guests from different parts of the province.

The Vox Orphanurom and Silliman University concert band provided uplifting serenades of Christmas songs during the celebration. The Synergy Dancers from San Carlos City, Negros Occidental also helped perk up the occasion.

TWO CAMPUSES ASKED FOR SCHOOL

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ., Philippines - Handumanan Elementary School in Brgy. Handumanan, Bacolod City, will be divided into two campuses. This is the subject of a resolution approved Thursday by the Sangguniang Panlungsod and endorsed with the Department of Education (DepEd) in Region 7.
 
Councilor Homer Bais, Chairman, Committee on Education, along with Councilors Em Ang and Caesar Distrito have resolved, in the resolution, to endorse to DepEd the formal division of two campuses, establishing Handumanan Elementary School 1 and Handumanan Elementary School 2 in Brgy. Handumanan, Bacolod City.

At present, Handumanan Elementary School is the biggest elementary school in Bacolod City with an enrolment of 3,877 pupils for School Year 2010-2011.The total land area of the said school is 2.611 hectares. (Edith B. Colmo)