Pag-unawa sa juvenile justice at pananagutan ng menor-de-edad

ni PAO Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta @Magtanong Kay Attorney | July 3, 2026

Dear Chief Acosta,

Maraming balita tungkol sa mga kriminal na aktibidad na kinasasangkutan ng mga menor-de-edad. Nakalulungkot makita na karamihan sa mga menor-de-edad na ito ay nagawang tumakas sa kanilang maling gawain na para bang walang nangyayari sa kabila ng antas ng kahalayan sa kanilang mga kilos. May pagkakataon ba na ang isang menor-de-edad na bata ay maaaring managot para sa anumang krimen na nagawa niya? — Elvira

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Dear Elvira,

Kinikilala ng Estado ang espesyal na kondisyon o katayuan ng mga bata na sa kanilang murang edad ay sumasailalim pa sa pag-unlad bilang isang tao sa iba't ibang aspeto tulad ng pisikal, mental, emosyonal at sikolohikal na pagbabago. Dahil dito, ang Estado ay may ibang pamantayan sa pakikitungo sa bawat bata na pinaghihinalaan, inaakusahan, o hinatulan na nakagawa ng pagkakasala sa ilalim ng ating mga batas, na tinatawag na child in conflict with the law (CICL); iba kumpara sa isang taong nagkasala na nasa hustong gulang na. Ang magkaibang pamantayang ito ay nakapaloob sa Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9344 o “Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006,” Ang Seksyon 6 ng nasabing batas ay nagsasaad na:

“SEC. 6. Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility. - A child fifteen (15) years of age or under at the time of the commission of the offense shall be exempt from criminal liability. However, the child shall be subjected to an intervention program pursuant to Section 20 of this Act.

A child above fifteen (15) years but below eighteen (18) years of age shall likewise be exempt from criminal liability and be subjected to an intervention program, unless he/she has acted with discernment, in which case, such child shall be subjected to the appropriate proceedings in accordance with this Act.

The exemption from criminal liability herein established does not include exemption from civil liability, which shall be enforced in accordance with existing laws.” 

Batay sa mga nabanggit, ang isang bata, na isang taong wala pang 18 taong gulang, ay karaniwang walang pananagutang kriminal. Gayunpaman, ang mga may edad na 16 hanggang 17 na kumilos nang may pag-unawa ay maaaring managot sa krimen. 

Ngayon, kailan itinuturing ang isang bata ay kumilos nang may pag-unawa? Masusing ipinaliwanag ito ng Korte Suprema sa kasong CICL XXX vs. People of the Philippines (G.R. No. 238798, March 14, 2023, Ponente: Honorable Associate Justice Rodil V. Zalameda): 

“1. Discernment is the capacity of the child at the time of the commission of the offense to understand the difference between right and wrong and the consequences of the wrongful act.

2. The task of ascertaining discernment is undertaken preliminary by a social worker, and finally by the court. The determination of discernment shall take into account the ability of a child to understand the moral and psychological components of criminal responsibility and the consequences of the wrongful act; and whether a child can be held responsible for essentially antisocial behavior. The assessment of a social worker is merely evidentiary and is not binding upon the court. Ultimately, the court finally determines discernment, based on its own appreciation of all the facts and circumstances in each case.

3. In our jurisdiction, there is no presumption that a minor act with discernment. The prosecution must specifically prove as a separate circumstance that the alleged crime was committed with discernment. For a minor at such an age to be criminally liable, the prosecution is burdened to prove beyond reasonable doubt, by direct or circumstantial evidence, that he acted with discernment.

4. In determining discernment, courts shall consider the totality of facts and circumstances in each case. Such circumstances include, but are not limited to: (i) the very appearance, the very attitude, the very comportment and behavior of said minor, not only before and during the commission of the act, but also after and even during trial, (ii) the gruesome nature of the crime, (iii) the minor's cunning and shrewdness, (iv) the utterances of the minor, (v) his overt acts before, during and after the commission of the crime, (vi) the nature of the weapon used, (vii) his attempt to silence a witness, and (viii) his disposal of evidence or his hiding the corpus delicti.”

Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang iyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa mga impormasyon na iyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng iyong salaysay.

Maraming salamat sa iyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.