Bicol solon seeks review of juvenile justice law, gun-owner liability

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay — Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. on Tuesday called for an urgent review of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act and tougher penalties for negligent firearm owners following the fatal shooting at San Jose Tacloban High School that claimed the lives of three students and injured several others.

READ: School shooting kills 3 students in Tacloban

Garbin, co-author of the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, in a social media post, expressed condolences to the victims’ families and condemned the attack, saying that while bullying must be addressed and punished, it can never justify taking another person’s life.

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“There is no grievance, no provocation, and no torment that can justify the deliberate killing of another,” he said.

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The lawmaker said the tragedy highlights the need to revisit Republic Act No. 9344, arguing that while the law was designed to protect children, it should not become a shield for minors who fully understand the consequences of their actions.

READ: Juvenile council clarifies minors still accountable under law

Garbin cited unverified reports and screenshots allegedly showing that some of the perpetrators were aware that their status as minors could protect them from punishment. If proven true, he said, such a mindset would indicate that the law is no longer deterring crime but may be encouraging it.

He clarified that he is not advocating the criminalization of children but a stronger application of the doctrine of discernment for offenders aged 15 to 18.

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“Where a minor acts with full discernment and full appreciation of the gravity of his crime, accountability must follow,” he said.

Garbin also pushed for stricter penalties against firearm owners whose negligence allows guns to fall into the hands of minors or other individuals who later use them in crimes.

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“A gun left unsecured is not a private matter; it is a public danger waiting for an occasion,” he said.

He proposed applying a principle similar to the registered-owner rule for motor vehicles, under which owners may be held liable for damages caused by their vehicles, arguing that firearm owners should likewise be held responsible for failing to secure deadly weapons.

Garbin urged Congress, law enforcement agencies, and the public to support reforms aimed at preventing similar incidents.

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“Behind every clause we debate are the faces of three children who will not grow up, and of families whose lives are forever altered,” he said. “We owe them more than grief. We owe them reform.”/coa