The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reiterated its stand against putting those children in conflict with the law (CICL) in jail, as it called for the intensified implementation of restorative justice.
Under the Republic Act (RA) 9344 or the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act, restorative justice involves the comprehensive management of CICL from prevention, to rehabilitation and reintegration through the development of a Comprehensive Juvenile Intervention Program at the national and local levels.
Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Albert Muyot explained that CICLs do not go “scot-free,” and that they in fact are made to participate in intervention programs and housed in Bahay Pag-Asa centers managed by the local government units.
DepEd has Alternative Learning System program for CICLs who were referred to DSWD centers,” he said.
Meanwhile, Council for the Welfare of Children Executive Director Mitzi Cajayo-Uy said it is also important to practice positive disciplining when dealing with children. (Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz)