Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region V (Bicol)
Schools Division Office
PERPETUAL HELP NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
City of Iriga
phnhs_1976@yahoo.com
(054) 299-15-54

Senior High School

Metamorphosis
James C. Ampongan

As a human, it is natural that we commit mistakes. It is human nature. We

should be given a second chance and no one shall take that from you. In order for a
butterfly to become a fully grown butterfly, she experienced challenges along the
way, barricades that stop her metamorphosis.

A child should be expected to play and have fun, to enjoy his/ her life to the
fullest. But this is not the reality, especially here in the Philippines, let us face the
truth, children here is used to deliver drugs and sometimes used in crimes, such as
robbery by syndicates, by bad people.

The stage where he/ she can live his/ her life to fullest, is gone. But there is
still a chance, a new beginning. A chance to rejuvenate.

At first, I do not agree with this law, because if you will think about it, 9 or even
12 years old is too young, he/ she still don’t know what is happening around him/ her.
But as I think about it, his/ her mindset can still be changed, with the help of
professionals.

Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act which is a system
dealing with children at risk and children in conflict with the law, which provides child-
appropriate proceedings that includes programmes and services.

Instead of using the word “juvenile”, Philippine laws made use of the word
“child”. As defined in R.A.No. 9344, “Child” is a person under the age of eighteen (18)
years. While “Child at Risk” refers to a child who is vulnerable to and at the risk of
committing criminal offences because of personal, family and social circumstances.
Some of the examples mentioned in the law are: being abandoned or neglected, and
living in a community with a high level of criminality or drug abuse.

“Child in Conflict with the Law” or CICL on the other hand refers to a child who
is alleged as, accused of, or adjudged as, having committed an offence under
Philippine laws.

A child can commit an act or omission whether punishable under special laws
or the amended Revised Penal Code which is referred to as an “Offence”. Under
Republic Act 10630, offences which only apply to a child and not to adults are called
“Status Offences”. These shall not be considered as offences and shall not be
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region V (Bicol)
Schools Division Office
PERPETUAL HELP NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
City of Iriga
phnhs_1976@yahoo.com
(054) 299-15-54

Senior High School

punished if committed by a child. Examples of status offences include curfew

violations, truancy, parental disobedience and the like.

Before R.A. No. 9344 was enacted, children at risk and CICL were treated
much like adult offenders as when former President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. signed
into law the Judiciary Reorganization Act 1980 which abolished the juvenile and
domestic relations courts. As such child offenders were subjected to the same
adversarial proceedings as their adult counterparts.

As an offshoot of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

(UNCRC), the R.A. No. 9344 intends to deal with these children without resorting to
judicial proceedings. Instead of punishing juvenile offenders and treating them as
criminals, these child offenders will be provided by the State and the community with
assistance to prevent them from committing future offences.

Some may not agree about this issue but think about it, there is still chance.
Many streetchildrens often ended up making serious crimes.

Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9344, Pursuant to Article 40 of the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child, the State recognizes the right of every child
alleged as, accused of, adjudged, or recognized as having infringed the penal law to
be treated in a manner consistent with the promotion of the child's sense of dignity
and worth, taking into account the child's age and desirability of promoting his/her
reintegration. Whenever appropriate and desirable, the State shall adopt measures
for dealing with such children without resorting to judicial proceedings, providing that
human rights and legal safeguards are fully respected. It shall ensure that children
are dealt with in a manner appropriate to their well-being by providing for, among
others, a variety of disposition measures such as care, guidance and supervision
orders, counseling, probation, foster care, education and vocational training
programs and other alternatives to institutional care.

There is nothing you will worry about because the state will ensure the safety
of the children.
Change is such a powerful thing. And sometimes change can be beautiful. Just
like a butterfly, in its early stage some may see that is an unpleasant thing, but little
did they know that if it undergo in the needed process perfectly, it will turn out into
the most beautiful and delicate thing existing.
This is the metamorphosis of life. Hard but fulfilling at the end.
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region V (Bicol)
Schools Division Office
PERPETUAL HELP NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
City of Iriga
phnhs_1976@yahoo.com
(054) 299-15-54

Senior High School