SC extends suspended sentence of minor convicted of rape

The Supreme Court (SC) has extended the suspended sentence of an offender who was a child when he committed qualified rape and ordered him to be confined in an agricultural camp under the supervision of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

- By DAPHNE GALVEZ

The SC, in a 27-page ruling, denied the appeal of the offender, who is already 25 years old at the time of the promulgation of the decision, imposing a penalty of 12 years to 14 years in prison.

It also remanded his case to the regional trial court to order his confinement in an agricultural camp or other training facilities, in a bid to give meaning to the legislative intent of Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.