The first week of September is said to be the “National Crime Prevention Week” (NCPW). The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) is the lead agency of the government in pursuing the goals of the NCPW. One of its mechanism purposely to achieve the goals of the NCPW is crime prevention information efforts by reaching out to as many school and barangay leaders all over the country through a series of crime and drug abuse prevention symposia and other related anti criminality drive.
The vigorous participation of school leaders in this activity is crucial because of their affiliation and influence to the youth not to involved in crimes. Despite the enactment of Republic Act No. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, which aimed to help control criminality among our youth, there is still a significant number of minors who are involved in crimes, misdemeanor and other forms of disciplinary infringement. This is as per reports from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies.
As a case in point, since last year, a trial judge in North Cotabato expressed alarm over the increasing number of cases filed against minors in her sala despite the passage of the said law. Judge Lily Laguindanum of the Regional Trial Court Branch 24 in Midsayap town said that complaints against minors with ages ranging between 15 and 17 years old and with an 'imposable' penalty of not more than six years in jail were still reaching the courts. She said the filing of these complaints violate the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 9344. She stressed that these cases should not be filed in court, although the offenders should undergo an intervention program of the government.
But most local government units, including North Cotabato, lack temporary shelter and crisis intervention centers for children in conflict with the law. (http://www.mindanews.com)
Since criminality is everybody’s concern and that needs to address them does not only involve the NAPOLCOM but rather all sectors of society, and considering the alarming occurrence of crimes involving the youth, the schools, especially Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) should strengthen and mobilize the STUDENT CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL (SCPC) created under CHED MEMO ORDER 42, series of 2005. As gleaned from this CMO, the SCPC was created to help alleviate criminality involving the youth. It is mandated among all colleges and universities, which is composed by the Student Supreme Council of each college or university. All SCPCs are involved in the formulation of crime prevention programs, conduct seminars or trainings on crime and drug prevention and control, conduct intensive information drive on crime prevention particularly on drug abuse, alcoholism, illegal gambling, fraternity quarrels, hazing and other undesirable activities.
As early as 1994, the Department of Education (DepED), by virtue of Department Order 101, s. 1994, initially initiated the creation of the SCPC in all institutions of learning. It was only in 2005 that CHED issued CMO No. 42 to restate such creation on all HEIs based on pertinent provisions of the Republic Act No. 7722 and the mandate of the Constitution of protecting the Right of Children against all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other conditions prejudicial to their development.
Henceforth, the reiteration of such mandate is hereby made. Combating criminality should be a hand-on-hand police and community effort.
