26/05/2025
AMEND RA 9344 | THE MAGUAD SIBLINGS CASE
The brutal murder of Crizzle Gwynn and Crizzvle Louis “Boyboy” Maguad shocked the nation, not just because of the act itself but because the main suspect turned out to be their own adopted sister, Janice Sebial. She was treated as a real member of the Maguad family, given love, a home, and education. Ngunit ilang buwan lang mula nang siya’y ampunin, siya rin pala ang magiging dahilan ng pagkamatay ng kanyang mga kapatid.
Janice initially pretended to be a survivor, claiming masked intruders attacked them. Pero hindi tugma ang kanyang kwento sa ebidensya, walang forced entry, at tila hindi naaayon ang kanyang emosyon sa bigat ng krimen. She even took a bath and posted online shortly after the killings. Lalong nagulantang ang publiko nang malamang hindi siya tunay na ulila. Her real family came forward, exposing gaps in the adoption and child welfare systems.
But the most controversial part came when the law became a barrier to immediate justice. Under Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, Janice and her accomplice Esmeraldo, both minors at the time, were protected from immediate punishment. Kahit napatunayang may discernment o kakayahang unawain ang ginawa, sila’y inilagay muna sa rehabilitation center, at hindi agad maaaring maparusahan tulad ng mga nasa hustisyang pangmatanda.
The law aims to rehabilitate the youth, not punish them outright. Ngunit sa kasong ito, tila mas naprotektahan ang gumawa ng krimen kaysa sa hustisya para sa mga biktima. Ang batas na dapat ay nagbibigay ng pangalawang pagkakataon, ay tila naging panangga sa agarang hustisya. Justice was not denied—but it was clearly delayed.
This case raises critical questions. Paano kung ang menor de edad ay may malinaw na intensyon, plano, at kakayahang pumatay? Dapat ba siyang ituring tulad ng mga batang naligaw lang ng landas? Hindi sapat ang batas kung hindi nito naiiba ang ganitong klaseng kabataan sa iba.
The tragedy also exposed failures in the vetting process of child welfare systems. If Janice’s real background had been thoroughly checked, or if a psychological evaluation was done, the crime might have been prevented.
Sa huli, the Maguad case reminds us that laws must adapt. Habang mahalagang bigyan ng pagkakataon ang kabataan, kailangang timbangin din ito sa tunay na hustisya para sa mga inosenteng buhay na nawala. Ang hustisyang naantala ay hustisyang tila ipinagkait.
Kiko Pangilinan GMA News ABS-CBN News News5 INQUIRER.net Philippine Star Rappler
