Mendicancy Law amended; punishment for exploiters, not for alms-givers

This is in connection with Conchita C. Razon’s article titled “What would Jesus do?” (Lifestyle, 11/10/13), where she said that she has researched but has found “no updates or amendments to the law,” referring to the Mendicancy Law of 1978.

For the information of Razon and of our readers, the law has been practically amended by Section 58 of Republic Act No. 9344, otherwise known as the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, which provides: “Persons below 18 years of age shall be exempt from prosecution for the crime xxx of mendicancy under Presidential Decree No. 1563 xxx such prosecution being inconsistent with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Provided, that said persons shall undergo appropriate counseling and treatment program.” The law took effect on May 22, 2006. If these young panhandlers are exempt from criminal liability, how can the alms-givers be still liable under the law?

As to Razon’s query, I am sure that Jesus, being the God of Mercy, would still help the needy but would punish the depraved people exploiting them.

—AMANDO C. VICENTE, retired fiscal,

dean, College of Criminal Justice Education,

Bulacan State University,

Malolos City, Bulacan