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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Raffy Tulfo wants separate detention facilities for minors guilty of heinous crimes

Raffy Tulfo wants separate detention facilities for minors guilty of heinous crimes

Published Jul 1, 2026 03:21 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator Raffy Tulfo pushed for amendments to the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act to fund specialized detention centers for Children in Conflict with the Law (CICLs) involved in heinous offenses, arguing that existing Bahay Pag-Asa facilities fail to convey accountability.
  • Tulfo also urged the Department of Education to explore supervised programs where reformed former inmates share their experiences with students to deter youth crime, while the mother of a Tacloban school shooting victim backed his proposal.
  • DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said lawmakers should decide the policy but urged that any new facilities be managed by the national government.
Senator Raffy Tulfo is pushing for swift changes to Republic Act No. 9344, also known as the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, to allocate funds for the creation of a dedicated detention facility for minors involved in heinous crimes.
Senator Raffy Tulfo (Senate of the Philippines photo)
Senator Raffy Tulfo (Senate of the Philippines photo)
During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Women and Children on July 1, Tulfo emphasized that it is not enough to simply place Children in Conflict with the Law (CICLs) who have committed heinous offenses in the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Bahay Pag-Asa facilities.
He noted that these minors often undergo intervention and rehabilitation programs and are eventually released without realizing the consequences of their actions. Tulfo said that while he believes that they should not be mixed with hardened criminals, the message should also not be lost—that every action has a consequence.
“Hindi yung nakikita ng mga bata na, ‘Ah, kapag ako ay nag-commit ng crime, pupunta ako sa Bahay Pag-Asa, at pagdating doon, magba-basketball kami, may pingpong…kumakain sila sama-sama, nagtatawanan (Not the kind of situation where children see, ‘Ah, if I commit a crime, I’ll go to Bahay Pag-Asa, and once I’m there, we’ll play basketball, there’s ping-pong… they eat together, laughing and having fun)," he said.
“Pagdating sa gabi, nandoon sila sama-sama sa isang kwarto, mag-uusap-usap. Saan dito yung takot na maipapakita sa mga bata? They will think it’s excursion, camping. Dapat papakita natin na merong katapat na parusa ang bawat gagawin niyong kasalanan (At night, they are all together in one room, talking among themselves. Where is the fear that should be instilled in the children there? They will think it’s like an excursion, camping. We need to show that every wrongdoing carries a corresponding punishment),” he added.
Jennylyn Badoria, the mother of one of the students killed in the shooting incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City on June 22 agreed with the proposal.
Tulfo also recommended that the Department of Education (DepEd) study and consider implementing supervised boot camps or carefully designed immersion programs where reformed former Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) can share their life stories and conduct lectures for students.
Through these programs, they can discuss the hardships they experienced while in prison and how they were able to rebuild their lives and become productive members of society.
Meanwhile, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian leaves it to the lawmakers to decide on the matter. If it's something that legislators will push through with, Gatchalian stated asked that it be placed under the management of the national government.
On the other hand, Raymund Narag, Head Consultant, Preso Foundation Associate Professor stated that juvenile detention centers that are very harsh does not work, along with boot camps.
"It has a brutalization effect, it makes them hard. It is not a deterrence because they do not understand it, and that makes it worse for everyone," he added.

Related Tags

Raffy Tulfo Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Tacloban school shooting Bahay Pag-asa
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