TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) -- The Philippine National Police is reminding parents of their financial liability if they allow their underage children or wards to drive vehicles and cause road accidents. 

Under the Civil Code of the Philippines, parents and guardians are primarily liable for damages caused by the acts or omissions of their children who are minors. 

“If a minor causes harm or damage, such as in a motorbike accident, parents can be held financially responsible,” said Lt. Col. Norman Nuez of the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) during the Strategic Information Broadcasting in Internet and other Access (SIBIA)  community affairs program. 

Nuez said the determination of liability of the parents or guardians would be based on the degree of care and supervision they exercised over the juvenile driver at the time of the accident. 

If it is proven that they were negligent in their duties, they can be held accountable.

Road accidents caused by minors

Police records show that in 2022, cases of children below 18 years old who figured in traffic accidents that caused undue physical injuries and damage to property reached 157. 

The data was culled from a graph showing crimes committed by children in conflict with the law (CICL), according to Capt. Mildred Taga-amo who heads the provincial Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk here. 

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

In the same year, police records show 36 traffic incidents involving minors in reckless imprudence resulting to damage to property and five cases of fatal incidents caused by children illegally driving vehicles resulting in homicide. 

“This data showed the alarming effect of minors being allowed by parents or guardians to drive and operate vehicles on the province’s streets and highways,” said Taga-amo. 

She urged parents to closely supervise their children to avoid civil liabilities. 

“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,” she said.

Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act

According to Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, individuals aged 15 years old or below at the time of the offense are exempted from criminal liability but would be subjected to an intervention program.

Those who are over 15 years but below 18 years may be exempted from criminal liability but would be subjected to an intervention program. 

Should a social worker prove the minor acted with discernment, he or she could be subjected to the appropriate proceedings.

The exemption from criminal liability, however, does not include exemption from civil liability. 

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

“While allowing children to drive and operate motor vehicles can save fares, that expressed permit becomes useless when the child meets an accident and injures others or destroys property,” said Nuez. 

SIBIA is a weekly public affairs program held at the PIA Bohol Information Center every Tuesday and is streamed live over the PIA Bohol Facebook page. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)