A 14-year-old boy has gotten off scot free after raping an eight-year-old girl in Bicol, taunting the victim’s parents. For obvious reasons, his photo cannot be shown.
Thanks but no thanks to former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan who sponsored the law that coddles minors who run afoul of the law.
Under the Pangilinan law, a minor who is 15 years old or younger cannot go to jail for any criminal offense he commits, no matter how grave it is.
The police have been harping against that law, along with workers of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, but they can’t do anything but comply with its directive: Release the offending minors to their parents.
Barangay officials where the 14-year-old rapist lives are worried that he might rape other girls again because he goes around the village, seemingly on the prowl for another victim.
The boy’s parents who are supposed to keep him on a leash, in a manner of speaking, let him be.
Parents of young girls are worried that their child may be the boy’s next victim.
The eight-year-old victim has moved to another province because her assailant remains on the loose.
After being raped, she now has to endure being separated from her parents who remain in Bicol region.
Thanks, but no thanks to Sen. Kiko Pangilinan who authored the law.
(Mon Tulfo in INQ.net)