A 14-year-old boy who killed a 13-year-old has been committed to the University of Saint La Salle – Bahay Pag-asa Youth Center in Barangay Granada, Bacolod City, by Bacolod Regional Trial Court Judge Ray Alan Drilon for protective custody, rehabilitation, reformation and professional care for one year.

The 14-year-old, whose name is being withheld by the DAILY STAR, was under the care and supervision of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Murcia after he killed a 13-year-old playmate while playing with a 357 caliber revolver owned by his father.

Drilon said the Social Welfare Officer of Murcia had shown to the satisfaction of the court that the child had shot and killed the 13-year-old.

He also noted that, in the social case study of the child, he had previously engaged in delinquent acts, is heavily influenced by the wrong group of peers, and is prone to commit further grave and serious offenses, unless given an immediate and proper intervention program.

Taking into consideration Republic Act 9344 (Juvenile Justice Act of 2006) that exempts a child, 15 years old and below, from criminal liability, but subject to an intervention program, the judge said there is a need to remove the 14-year-old Murcia boy from his home that is found in the same place where the family of his victim resides, for his own protection.

The judge directed the Bahay Pag-asa Youth Center to submit a progress report on the intervention program for the 14-year-old six month after his voluntarily commitment.*CPG

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