SENATOR Francis Escudero called on Congress to review the country’s juvenile justice laws following the recent school shooting in Tacloban, stressing that laws created by people must be reassessed and improved when they no longer respond to present-day realities.

Escudero, who co-authored Republic Act No. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 and its amendatory law, Republic Act No. 10630, said his role in crafting the country’s juvenile justice framework drives him to support a fresh and evidence-based review amid renewed discussions on juvenile accountability, school safety, and access to firearms.

Speaking during the second part of his Chiz Wiz podcast discussing the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, Escudero emphasized that unlike divine laws, human-made laws are subject to change and improvement.

“I have long believed that only one law was written in stone and came from God. All other laws were written by people, and no lawmaker is perfect or knows everything to create a law that should never be changed,” he said.

The senator noted that even the framers of the 1987 Constitution recognized the possibility of future amendments, acknowledging that no law can anticipate every challenge society may face.

Escudero said revisiting the juvenile justice law should not be seen as an admission that lawmakers made mistakes, but as a responsible step to ensure that the law remains effective and relevant.

He urged fellow legislators to remain open to amendments that would improve and strengthen existing laws in the interest of the country, the Filipino people, and particularly the youth.

Addressing concerns raised during the podcast, Escudero clarified that Republic Acts 9344 and 10630 already provide accountability, intervention, and rehabilitation mechanisms for children in conflict with the law, contrary to claims that minors cannot be held responsible for their actions.

He expressed support for a “full-cycle review” of the juvenile justice system to identify gaps in implementation and develop stronger measures that balance public safety with the protection of the rights and welfare of young offenders.

“The law exists for the people. If it no longer responds to the needs of the times, it is our duty to improve and adapt it,” Escudero said.