(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday called out Senator Francis Pangilinan for authoring the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act, and reiterated his support for programs that would instill discipline in the youth amid the prevailing lack of “sense of obedience” among Filipinos.
In a speech during the Boy Scouts of the Philippines investiture rites, Duterte, who was wearing a Boy Scouts uniform, said Pangilinan’s law was the reason behind “five to six generations of people who committed crimes.”
“I’m so sad over this sordid history of country. Pinasa (ni Pangilinan) yang Juvenile..Act at binaba niya edad sa 15. Pagdating mo ng 15, maski ano gawin mo, patayin mo..magpatay ka diyan, galaw ng babae, lahat. Whatever the crime, robbery with homicide, robbery with rape with homicide.. pagdating ng nanay (mo), babalik ka sa kanya. Isang araw lang,” he said.
He said the “problem with Pangilinan (is that) he was too in a hurry, pinalusot niya yun.”
“Kaya we produced about five, six generations of people who committed crimes, and release (them) on the same day irrespective of the gravity of the offense. Pag dumating barangay captain or nanay, pinapakawalan. Makita ninyo riyan sa Edsa, pabalik balik,” he added.
He said since “we have produced people who are of criminal minds,” it is also “hard to stop the drug problem now.”
“Kasi sila labas pasok at nagnegosyo. At gustong sirain kayo,” he said, addressing the younger members of the crowd.
“Libertarian attitudes”
Duterte also lamented the prevailing “libertarian attitudes,” reiterating his support for programs that instill discipline in the youth such as the preparatory military training (PMT), and the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and BSP programs.
In February, the Duterte administration said it would push for a mandatory ROTC program for Grades 11 and 12 students.
“Ayaw na magBSP, ayaw niya magPMT, ayaw niya magROTC. Walang alam kundi mag-inom, mag-ramble, sirain ang bayan at pumapasok sa droga. Alam mo ba, ang mga addict…yang mga yan, walang ginawa kasi walang disiplina. Kung dumaan sana yan ng BSP, PMT, ROTC, may sense of responsibility (siya),” he said.
He said the reason there was “so much criminality” was because “nobody respects the law.”
“Generations of labas, pasok, using (boys and girls) as couriers of shabu (because) you can’t arrest them, 15 years old. They can be used, reused and utilized..There is no law. If there is one, it does not have a bite. The only thing that’s really missing..missing link between ito and generation natin is the fear to violate the law. Wala na yun. And even sense of obedience wala na,” he added.