REPUBLIC Act (RA) No. 9344, more commonly known as the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, has drawn heavy criticism from netizens following the brutal killing of a 19-year-old student, allegedly by underage perpetrators.
RA 9344 aims to protect minors in conflict with the law, focusing on their rehabilitation and reintegration into society rather than punishment.
The law promotes a child-friendly approach that considers the best interests of the child in exceptional circumstances.
Some even questioned the author of the law, Senator Kiko Pangilinan.
“Hi Sen. Kiko Pangilinan author of Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act 2006. Ang suspek 14 ug 17-anyos, unya unsaon naman ni ron? What the f**k gyod kaayo ng balaod nimo (Hi Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, author of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006. The suspects are 14 and 17 years old — what now? Your law is so f***ed up),” said one Leizel in a Facebook post caption.
Following a swift follow-up operation by the Tagum City Police Station under the Davao del Norte Police Provincial Office (DNPPO), led by Provincial Director Police Colonel Alexander P. Serrano, two minor suspects were apprehended inside a boarding house.
Recovered from their possession were an Apple laptop, iPad, iPhone, two watches, and other allegedly stolen items. Also seized were a blood-stained butterfly knife, a kitchen knife, and other paraphernalia.
The victim was found dead in her room at dawn on July 9, bearing multiple bruises and 38 stab wounds in different parts of her body.
According to the Tagum City Police, a total of four individuals were involved in the crime, prompting an ongoing manhunt for the other suspects still at large.
Message of condolence
On Thursday morning, July 10, 2025, Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy extended his condolences to the victim's family and assured them that the case will be solved, emphasizing that criminals have no place in Tagum City.
“Dili kita muundang hangtod makab-ot nato ang hustisya ug muhunong ang susamang panghitabo sa atong syudad. Walay lugar ang mga kriminal diri sa atong syudad (We will not stop until we achieve justice and prevent similar incidents from happening in our city. There is no place for criminals here in Tagum),” Mayor Uy said in a Facebook post.
He also assured that he would not allow the peace and order of Tagum to be disrupted, and instructed heightened police vigilance under Police Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Deles, officer-in-charge of the Tagum PNP.
“Dili kita mutugot nga tungod sa mga adunay dili maayo nga intensyon maapektohan ang kalinaw ug kahapsay sa atong pamuyo, ingon man ang kaugmaon sa mga Tagumenyo. Busa, atong gimandoan ang atong kapulisan mas gut-an pa ang pagbantay sa seguridad sa Tagum (We will not allow those with ill intentions to affect the peace and stability of our community and the future of Tagumeños. That’s why we’ve ordered our police to strengthen security measures in the city),” Mayor Uy added.
The mayor also released the police hotline numbers for the Tagum PNP to encourage the public to report any suspicious activities in their areas:
“Kung aduna moy mga napaniiran nga kaduda-duda nga naglibot-libot sa inyong lugar o mga panghitabo nga dili angay, i-report dayon kini sa kapulisan pinaagi sa mga numero nga 0919 748 5024 (TNT), ug sa 0967 450 1815 (Globe) (If you notice any suspicious individuals or incidents in your area, report them immediately to the police through 0919 748 5024 (TNT), or 0967 450 1815 (Globe),” the mayor urged.
The apprehended minors are currently under temporary custody of the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) of the Tagum PNP, while the recovered evidence is with the General Investigation Section for proper documentation.
As of this report, written around Thursday noon, the police have yet to release further updates on the manhunt operation for the remaining suspects. JPC
