RESEARCH ON THE SITUATION OF CHILDREN IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW IN SELECTED METRO MANILA CITIES Adhikain Para sa Karapatang Pambata Ateneo Human Rights Center RESEARCH ON THE SITUATION OF CHILDREN IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW IN SELECTED METRO MANILA CITIES Adhikain Para sa Karapatang Pambata Ateneo Human Rights Center This report forms part of the CD-ROM entitled, “BREAKING RULES: Children in Conflict with the Law and the Juvenile Justice Process, The Experience in the Philippines.” Published by: Save the Children UK 3/F FSS Building 1 89 Scout Castor Street, Quezon City, Philippines Copyright 2004 Save the Children – UK Philippines Programme This material is copyright but may be reproduced by any method without fee or prior permission for teaching purposes, but not for resale. For copying in any other circumstances, prior written permission must be obtained from the publisher, and a fee may be payable. Research Team Project Director: Maria Glenda R. Ramirez Project Coordinators: Yvette C. Tenefrancia Nelda Erynn P. Torio AKAP Director: Ana Janet F. Suñga Consultants: Prof Jeffry Tejada Prof Maria Cristita Mallari Dr Ma. Louisa Carandang Violeta Cruz Atty Roselle Tenefrancia Atty Araceli Habaradas Contributing Writers: Atty Tricia Clare Oco Atty Roselle Tenefrancia Atty Araceli Habaradas Atty Amparita S. Sta. Maria Editors: Atty Maria Victoria V. Cardona Atty Claire P. Hipolito Technical editing: Wilma T. Bañaga Design and layout: Dok Pavia Save the Children UK is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, the world’s leading independent children’s rights organisation, with members in 27 countries and operational programmes in more than 100 countries. Save the Children works with children and their communities to provide practical assistance and, by influencing policy and public opinion, bring about positive change for children. ii Save the Children – UK Acknowledgments A research of this magnitude and intricacy cannot be accomplished without the assistance, encouragement and support of many people. Throughout the preparation of this project, the research team has relied on a great number of individuals, without whom its completion would have been impossible. Thus, it wishes to acknowledge the following for their specific contributions: Save the Children UK, for its financial support and technical inputs for this project since its inception, for the staff’s patience and understanding, and for bearing with us through the delays encountered with the work. The steadfast support, friendship and inspiration throughout this project from the lawyers of the Ateneo Human Rights Center (AHRC), namely, Carlos P. Medina, Jr. (Executive Director), Atty. Sedfrey M. Candelaria, Amparita S. Sta. Maria, Maria Aleli R. Domingo-Bernardino, Myrfi S. Gonzalez, Clarinda P. Hipolito, Minerva Tan, Gilbert V. Sembrano and Ray Paolo J. Santiago. They provided encouragement and moral support in the course of the research. The AHRC staff--Ms. Carmelita D. Santos and Ms. Evangeline B. Riosa, for their technical and moral support; and Mr. Reuben R. Verdejo and Mr. Rodelio M. Ernacio for always being there to patiently help us run our errands. The Ateneo Professional Schools (APS) for providing us the venue to present the focus group discussions, interview trainings and initial findings of the study. The project consultants, for their valuable critique, initial inputs and suggestions. We are grateful to Professor Ma. Cristita Mallari, for her helpful insights and commentary; to Professor Jeffry Tejada, who provided the statistical interpretation and analysis of our gathered data; and to Dr. Ma. Louisa Carandang, Ph.D. and Mrs. Violeta Cruz, for providing invaluable approach and shared experiences during the project. We are especially grateful to Atty. Roselle Tenefrancia, who helped interview the children in conflict with the law and the components of Manila’s family courts. She also provided invaluable assistance in the writing of this paper as a sounding board and a critic as we brainstormed the interpretation and conclusions. The Family Courts, Prosecutors, Public Defendants, Social Workers, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Officials, the police, probation and barangay officers. They supported the project’s aim and discussed issues regarding the situation of CICL and for their warm welcome and comfortable accommodation during the interview and data gathering phase of our study. Our thanks also extend to our friends in the private sector who have given access to relevant data and information. Save the Children – UK iii Ms. Marah Candy Aguilar and Ms. Toni Ann San Agustin, who both helped tremendously in compiling the court cases of CICL in all the family courts of the project’s five key cities; Mr. Ferdinand Diño, for helping amass the collection of research materials used in the study of related literature; Mr. Gonzalo Go III, Ms. Ivy Angelli Rosales, Mr. Fritz Ritchie Avila and Ms. Angelisa Razo, for their invaluable assistance in the tabulation of the interview results. We would like to specifically acknowledge the following individuals for their assistance and for their substantial contributions during the interview phase. We appreciate the time and effort each of them has put into this study that contributed towards the completion of this research project: Blessie Abad, Rommel Alim Abitria, Scarlette Rose Abragan, Joel Aguirre, Xilca Alvarez, Pia Alvendia, Marie Amular - Angeles, Annang Heather Anoñuevo, Reginald Thomas, Antonio Salvador Jr., Denise Jordan Arenillo, Maria Victoria Awid, Dexter Balot, Jeri Alanz Banta, Angelica Benedicto, Ferdinand Benitez, Ria Berbano, Dexter Bernades, Elizabeth Bingas, Christine Bio, Janina Bustos, Cristina Cabrera, Edelyn Cadapan, Mary Caniba, Ameera Capay, Maria Angelica Capili, Paola Cardenas, Lovely-Ann Carlos, Ma. Jasmin Casaje, Eleazar Castillo, Charisse Jen Choa, Rhoda Cisnero, Claire M. Clementir, Philson Co, Christina Codilla, Diana Dare, Philip De Jesus, Linabelle De Venecia, Ma. Gemma Dee, Yola De La Cruz, Franklin Del Castillo, Christopher Delos Reyes, Amylex Depano, Anel Diaz, Katrina Pia Diaz, Ferdinand Diño, Jen Dinopol, Warren Dy Chua, Mylene Eguilos, Mark Leinad Enojo, Michelle Ann Erum, Ma. Cristina Espinosa, Laurice Esteban, Jose Eduardo Genilo, Gonzalo Go III, Mahlene Go, Margaret Ann Go, Jinky Guevarra, Raffy Guina, Cyril Eugene Hermoso, Claire Hernandez, Jennifer Hernandez, Ma. Cristina Hipolito, George Hipolito, James Imbong, Veronica Inoturan, Chris Lawrence Isidro, Erika Jimenez, Rhoda Jimenez, Christine Jolo, Charmane Kanahashi, Archelle Lagsub, Franco Paolo Lasam, Patrick Lauron, Jojo Leagogo, John Lee, Monica Ley, Joey Linsangan, Aaron Litonjua, John Paul Loo, Joseph Lopez, Beryl Macabaya, Francis Maynard Maleon, Clarissa Aeaea Mallari, Fernando Maronilla, Julie Mercurio, David Craig Meregillano, Sheila Monedero, Ronald Monera, Tony Roberts Moreno, John Paul Nabua, Gian Navarro, Freedom Navidad, Tom Jayson Ngo, Trinie Anne Nieva, Rester John Nonato, Carissa Agnes Olmedo, Dean Oriñas, Regina Maria Ozoa, Ana Rosario Padua, Ivy Pagdanganan, Maria Sophia Palmagil, Deborah Paraiso, Ronnie Ray Paraiso, Gene Vincent Perez, Nancy Prodon, Rachel Punzalan, Katrina Puzon, Leah Glenda Quesada, Emmalyn Ramirez, Christine Antoinette Ramos, Richie Avigale Ramos, Maria Greta R. Resurreccion, Joan Pauline Reyes, iv Save the Children – UK Culbert Reynes, Alexander Paul Rivera, Angelito Maria Rivera, Maria Lourdes Rivera, Mitchelle Rivera, Ivy Angelli Rosales, Ryan Jay Roset, Ramayana Saidamen, Gemini Sandoval, Gigi Santos, Carmine Eliza Serrano, Christian Sia, John Philip Siao, Carla Silverio, Mike Singson, Rowena Soriano, Abigail Suarez, Marinela Tablang, Mark Eusebio Taguinod, Angelo Tan, Brynda Tan, Christine Joy Tan, Katrina Tan, Lydia Tan-Paredes, Annalyn Tayag, Mark Jose Tiaoqui, Regie Tongol, Gian Carlo Trinidad, Sherwin Tugna, Ma. Perpetua Unico, Ruth Nicole Ureta, Enrique Uy, Jill Christine Uy, Jonathan Uy, Voltaire Uy, Alzeena Vasquez, Racquel Sienna Vergara, Giovanni Vidal, Rafael Yap, Patricia Ycasiano, Felina Yu, and Karen Yu. Most of all, we thank our families whose moral support and encouragement saw us through as we faced obstacles in the completion of this project; for their understanding and care even when they suffered an intolerable invasion of our family time; for their forbearance in having to tolerate our arriving home very late at night; for keeping out of our way as we continue our office work at home; and for the affection and support as we tackled the details of the research. In the realisation of this project, the members of the research team acquired a great deal of insight, understanding, and awareness of the situation of children in conflict with the law. Save the Children – UK v Contents Acknowledgements iii List of Tables ix List of Figures xiv Acronyms and Abbreviations xv Local Terms Used xvi 1 Introduction 1 Objectives of the Study Framework of the Study Scope and Limitations of the Study 2 Methodology 4 Interviews with the Five Pillars Interviews with Children in Conflict with the Law and Case Studies Review of Family Court Cases Other Document Researches and Reviews Methods of Validation 3 Summary of Related Studies 15 4 International and National Laws Related to Children’s Justice 22 Criminal Responsibility Deprivation of Liberty Capital Punishment and Life Imprisonment Procedure Related to Children’s Justice vi Save the Children – UK The Child Enters the Law Enforcement Pillar The Child Enters the Prosecution Pillar The Child Enters Court Level The