PARENTAL LIABILITY

Minors in traffic accidents hit

157 injuries, ruined properties

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Feb 3 (PIA) – In 2022, cases of children below 18 years old who involved in traffic accidents, causing undue physical injuries and damage to property reached 157, cites Camp Dagohoy’s Women and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD) chief officer.

Police Captain Mildred Taga-amo, who heads the provincial WCPD here bared this during the weekly Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) community affairs program billed as Strategic Information Broadcasting in Internet and other Access (SIBIA) streamed live from the PIA Bohol Information Center studio, every Tuesday.

The data, culled from a graph showing crimes committed by children in conflict with the law (CICL) showed the alarming effect in cases of minors being allowed by parents or guardians to drive and operate vehicles on the province’s streets and highways.

Taga-amo reported that in 2022, BPPO logged 121 cases of reckless imprudence resulting to physical injuries, all of them involving minors as driver.

Moreover, she added that of the same year, another 36 traffic incidents involving minors in reckless imprudence resulting to damage to property.

In fact, in five more cases, kids illegally operating motor vehicles led to fatal incidents result in homicide.

Amidst the troubling news, SIBIA anchor Police Lieutenant Colonel Norman Nuez informed listeners of financial liability of parents who allowed their minor wards to illegally drive vehicles and meet accidents.

As to the Civil Code of the Philippines, parents and guardians are primarily liable for damages caused by the acts or omissions of their minor children, and that if a minor causes harm or damage, such as in a motorbike accident, parents can be held financially responsible, Col. Nuez said.

The determination of liability of the parents or guardians however would be based on the degree of care and supervision they exercised over the minor at the time of the incident. If it can be proven that they were negligent in their duties, they can be held accountable, shared an online material posted by respecio.ph

According to Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, 15-year old or under, at the time of the commission of the offense is exempt from criminal liability, but would be subjected to an intervention program.

Those over 15 years but below 18 years may be exempt from criminal liability, would be subjected to an intervention program, or when a social worker proves he acted with discernment, could be subjected to the appropriate proceedings.

The exemption from criminal liability, however, does not include exemption from civil liability, according to the said law.

But while these children can be exempted from criminal liability, the parents, upon the court’s determination of negligence, could be hailed to pay for the damages caused by the child.

While allowing children to drive and operate motor vehicles can save for fares and the enjoy the convenience of fast errands, that expressed permit becomes useless when the child meets an accident and injures others or destroys property, says Col Nuez.

In fact, more and more cases of theft involving children are getting reported, based on the BPPO report.

Theft involving children peaked at 48 cases in 2022, and the year also records 2 cases of illegal drugs involving minors.

Over this, Taga-amo called on parents to keep up and take control of their kids, while owning the civil liabilities the children in conflict with the law has committed.

Spend more time and effort in monitoring the activities of your children and know that you can be held personally accountable for your children's actions, through the payment for damages, treatment for injuries and possible legal restitutions in cases when the reckless act led to homicide. (rahc/PIA7Bohol)

TAKE CONTROL, MONITOR YOUR KIDS. Police Captain Mildred Tagaamo said that in 2022, minors or children below 18 years old committed as much as 247 crimes, and most of these involve traffic accidents resulting to injuries, damage to properties and even homicide. In these violations, some children may be exempt from criminal and civil liability, parents and guardians of these CICL may be liable. (PIABohol)