Abbey M.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is set to conclude its investigation into the deaths of two Ateneo Blue Eagles basketball players by Thursday, with Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla announcing that recommendations will be submitted to the Department of Justice on Friday.

The investigation concerns the deaths of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, who drowned during an Ateneo Men's Basketball Team building activity in Aurora Province on June 8.

Remulla said the CIDG's findings are nearly complete and that the DOJ submission on Friday will cover.

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Malacañang has expressed support for increasing the budget of schools to hire security guards, as the Philippine National Police (PNP) prepares to issue recommendations on necessary measures to ensure safety within school premises.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a review of existing security protocols in schools following a shooting incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City on Monday, June 22.

PNP Spokesperson Police Colonel Allen Rae Co said that aside from revising security measures, they will also recommend steps to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and other school personnel.

"Agad pong ipinag-utos ng ating Chief PNP unang-una po ang comprehensive review ng lahat po ng ito, existing security protocols na prevailing sa atin pong mga eskuwelahan. Ito pong access control and entry procedures, we are recommending na iyon pong mga schools na malalaki, na marami pong ingress at egress ay i-limit na lang po sa isa o dalawa para po mas ma-monitor natin ang mga pumapasok." (Our Chief PNP immediately ordered, first and foremost, a comprehensive review of all existing security protocols prevailing in our schools. On access control and entry procedures, we are recommending that larger schools with many entry and exit points limit these to just one or two so we can better monitor those who enter.)

The PNP also said it will strengthen coordination with barangays and introduce active shooter drills in schools.

"Also, papalakasin po natin iyong coordination mechanism between the law enforcement, the barangays, as well as the schools po natin. And isa pa po ay iyong we are planning to conduct simulation exercises kagaya po ng earthquake drills natin na kung saan ay matuturuan po ang ating mga estudyante at ating mga guro at lahat po kung paano po mag-react, kung ano po ang gagawin in crisis situations to include active shooter situation." (We will also strengthen the coordination mechanism between law enforcement, the barangays, and our schools. We are also planning to conduct simulation exercises similar to our earthquake drills, where our students, teachers, and everyone will be taught how to react and what to do in crisis situations, including active shooter situations.)

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro also expressed the administration's openness to allocating additional funds for the Department of Education to hire well-trained security guards for schools.

"Iyan po ay naitanong din po natin at kung kinakailangan po talaga ay kailangan pong magdagdag ng budget, kapag ito po ang pinag-uusapan natin para po sa seguridad ng ating mga kabataan at mga mag-aaral." (That was also raised, and if it is truly necessary to add to the budget, especially when we are talking about the security of our youth and students, then it must be done.)

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Iran has rejected claims by U.S. Vice President JD Vance that Tehran agreed to allow United Nations inspectors back into its nuclear facilities.

The Iranian government maintained that it has made no new commitments regarding inspections of the facilities bombed by the United States and Israel last year.

The U.S. and Iran issued conflicting statements following the first round of negotiations held in Switzerland on Sunday.

Vance had earlier said that one of the outcomes of the meeting was Iran's agreement to allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) representatives back in to inspect its nuclear facilities.

In a statement following the Switzerland negotiations, Vance claimed that Iran had agreed to allow IAEA inspectors back into the country, calling it a major step toward denuclearization.

"The Iranians have agreed to invite IAEA inspectors back into their country. That is a major milestone for the American people and the first step in permanently denuclearizing or permanently ending a nuclear weapons program in Iran."

["Ang mga Iraniano ay pumayag na imbitahan muli ang mga inspektor ng IAEA sa kanilang bansa. Iyon ay isang malaking tagumpay para sa mga Amerikanong mamamayan at ang unang hakbang sa permanenteng pag-aalis ng nuklear o permanenteng pagtatapos ng programang sandata nuklear sa Iran."]

Iran quickly denied the claim. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran has no plans to allow UN representatives into the nuclear sites bombed by the U.S. and Israel last year.

Baqaei flatly denied Vance's claims, stating that Iran held no meeting with the IAEA Director General and has no intention of allowing inspections of nuclear sites damaged in last year's strikes.

"We neither had a meeting with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, nor do we have any plan for the Agency to inspect Iranian nuclear facilities damaged by the military aggression of the United States and the Zionist regime."

["Wala kaming pulong sa Direktor Heneral ng International Atomic Energy Agency, ni wala kaming plano para payagan ang Ahensiya na inspeksiyunin ang mga nuclear facility ng Iran na nasira dahil sa military aggression ng Estados Unidos at ng Zionist regime."]

Baqaei added that Iran would only abide by its existing obligations as a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and that no new commitments on inspections were made.

Reiterating Iran's position, Baqaei stressed that the country would only follow its existing commitments under the NPT and the Safeguards Agreement, with no new concessions given.

"As a member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and a country committed to the Safeguards Agreement, we will continue the current routine."

["Bilang kasapi ng Non-Proliferation Treaty at isang bansang nakatuon sa Safeguards Agreement, magpapatuloy kami sa kasalukuyang gawi."]

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump insisted that Iran had fully agreed to wide-ranging nuclear inspections going forward, despite the denials. He also warned that negotiations would not proceed unless Iran agreed to the inspections, and that Washington could take strong action if Iran failed to honor what was agreed upon.

Despite Iran's denials, Trump warned that failure to honor any agreement would compel the U.S. to take necessary action.

"If Iran doesn't live up to their agreement or if they're not behaving, I will do what I have to do."

["Kung hindi susundin ng Iran ang kanilang kasunduan o kung hindi sila kumikilos nang tama, gagawin ko ang kailangan kong gawin."]

Despite the conflicting accounts from both sides, talks are set to continue over the next 60 days as negotiating groups are formed to focus on issues surrounding Iran's nuclear program, sanctions, and regional security.

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MANILA – In the wake of the deadly school shooting in Tacloban City, calls have resurfaced to lower the age of criminal liability in the Philippines. But a human rights lawyer clarified Tuesday what the law actually says about the accountability of minors who commit crimes.

Human rights lawyer Atty. Edre Olalia said they are opposed to lowering the age of criminal liability, explaining that the principle behind the law is rooted in the limited understanding and maturity of children.

"Kahit na talagang napaka lungkot at karumaldumal yung nangyari, sa prinsipyong legal ay tutol kami sa pagbaba ng age, edad ng criminal liability. Kasi hindi lang naman ito ang dapat natin tingnan. Tingnan natin pangkalahatan. Kasi ang punto naman bakit may ang tawag dito, merong sukatan ng edad para panagutan ang isang menor de edad ay yung kakulangan pa sa pangkalahatan syempre. Kakulangan pa ng pag-unawa, pag-intindi at yung murang kaisipan sa mga bagay-bagay at sa mga pagkilos at behavior."

("Even though what happened is truly sad and horrific, on legal principle we are opposed to lowering the age of criminal liability. Because this is not the only thing we should look at. Let us look at the whole picture. The point behind having an age threshold for holding a minor accountable is the lack of full understanding, comprehension, and maturity in things, actions, and behavior.")

The incident has renewed calls for the amendment of Republic Act 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, also known as the Pangilinan Law.

Under the current law, children aged 15 and below at the time a crime is committed have absolute exemption from criminal liability. This means they cannot be imprisoned regardless of the offense committed, including crimes such as murder or rape. Instead, they may be placed under an intervention program such as referral to the social welfare department.

"Kung criminal liability, 'pag 15 and below ka, nung iyong di umano kinommit yung offense, yung krimen. Exempt ka, wala kang criminal liability, hindi ka pwedeng ikulong, hindi ka pwedeng litisin, hindi ka pwedeng i-convict."

("On criminal liability, if you are 15 and below at the time you allegedly committed the offense, the crime — you are exempt, you have no criminal liability, you cannot be imprisoned, you cannot be tried, you cannot be convicted.")

Those above 15 but below 18 years old also have no criminal liability, unless it is proven that they acted with discernment — meaning a full understanding of the wrongful act and its consequences.

"Sa 15 above 18, ang exception ay wala rin dapat na criminal liability kung maliban lamang kung mayroong tinatawag na discernment o naiintindihan niyang lubos ang kanyang ginawa at ano ang epekto nito. Doon sa 15 and below, ang gagawin dyan hindi ikukulong o iku-convict kundi maraming mga pamamaraan. Pwedeng reformation, rehabilitation, or intervention or counseling."

("For those above 15 but below 18, the exception is that there should also be no criminal liability unless there is what is called discernment — that they fully understood what they did and its consequences. For those 15 and below, they will not be imprisoned or convicted but there are many approaches available — reformation, rehabilitation, intervention, or counseling.")

For those above 15 but below 18 where discernment is established, Olalia said a process called diversion applies, which involves programs and steps toward reforming the child, and proceedings that differ from those applied to adults.

"Doon naman sa 15 above, [below] 18, pwede rin yung mga nabanggit ko pero dagdag yan, dahil na kung merong discernment na tinatawag, ang tawag yan sa legal ay diversion. Ibig sabihin may mga programa, may mga hakbang kung paano marireforma yung bata at yung paglilitis ng 15 above 18 na hindi tulad ng paglilitis ng age o adult."

("For those above 15 but below 18, the same options I mentioned apply but in addition, if there is discernment, this is legally called diversion. This means there are programs and steps on how to reform the child, and the proceedings for those above 15 but below 18 are not the same as proceedings for adults.")

Olalia clarified that even without criminal liability, parents or relatives may still be held civilly liable for damages under their parental authority, particularly if negligence is established.

"Siyempre, yung kanyang mga magulang, pamilya. Ang pwedeng managot kasi humahalili sila. Meron silang parental authority na tinatawag at lalo na kung merong tinatawag na negligence. May mga bali-balita pa. Siyempre kailangan hintayin natin yung...lubos na investigasyon at na-established ang facts."

("Of course, the parents and family. They can be held accountable because they stand in place of the child. They have what is called parental authority, and especially if there is what is called negligence. There are still reports coming in. Of course we need to wait for a thorough investigation and for the facts to be established.")

He also noted that the owner of the firearm, especially if a police or military officer, may face administrative liability for negligence in securing the weapon.

The school may likewise face potential liability under substitute parental authority if it is proven that it failed to provide a safe environment or did not act on signs of bullying and violence.

Olalia said a holistic approach is the better solution — including stricter regulation of firearms and social media — to address the root causes of such tragedies rather than simply lowering the age of accountability. He also stressed that laws and government measures alone are not enough to discipline children, as parental guidance during their formative years remains the most important factor.

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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is open to a proposed total ban on violent online and mobile games in the Philippines, Malacañang said.

The Palace also expressed support for a proposal to lower the age of criminal liability.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Palace is willing to listen to and study the proposal to ban violent online games outright.

Castro noted that lawmakers should act swiftly on the matter.

"Naireport nga po na itong mga batang ito ay gumon sa paglalaro ng online gaming marahas, napag-usapan na i-ban, so maganda pong mungkahi yan at sana makagawa agad ng batas at open ang pangulo sa ganyang mga panukala," Castro said.

("It has been reported that these children are addicted to playing violent online games, a ban has been discussed, so that is a good proposal and hopefully a law can be made immediately — the President is open to such proposals.")

She added that legislators should not wait to be consulted and should move quickly to craft the necessary legislation.

"Sa tingin po natin kahit hindi na po kausapin ang mga mambabatas ay mabilisan silang magbabalangkas ng batas para maisakatuparan ito," Castro said.

("We think that even without being consulted, lawmakers should quickly draft a law so this can be carried out.")

This comes following reports that a suspect in the shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City was allegedly addicted to a violent game.

The Philippine National Police said there are early indications that the suspects were heavily influenced by an online community.

PNP Spokesperson Police Colonel Allen Rae Co said the investigation is ongoing.

"Suffice to say, early indications are saying that [they were] heavily influenced by online content, so online community? Possibly," Co said.

The PNP did not elaborate further on the group.

Some parents said that violent online and mobile games should be banned, especially for minors, citing the negative effects on children's behavior and studies.

A youth named Mar, 19 years old, also called on parents to monitor what games their children are playing online.

"Sa mga bata po naman sana gawin ng mga magulang i-check ang mga bata sa mga games at anong nilalaro ng games," Mar said.

("For children, parents should check on their kids and what games they are playing.")

Meanwhile, the PNP expressed support for a separate proposal to lower the age of criminal liability to 12 years old.

"The PNP is supporting the lowering of the age of criminal responsibility. Age — what? We are thinking 12 years old," Co said.

PBBM is also open to any idea on lowering the age of criminal liability, though the Palace said he has not yet taken a position on a specific age.

"Sa ngayon walang posisyon ang pangulo kung anong edad, pero kung [ang] suggest [ay] 12 years old, ito ay makatwirang edad," Castro said.

("For now, the President has no position on what specific age, but if the suggestion is 12 years old, that is a reasonable age.")

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