ABONALES, MARGIE I.

CRI III – ESSENTIALS OF CRIMINOLOGY

7:30E – 8:30E
 Marcial “Baby Ama” Perez: A Minor Executed Via Electric Chair

In 1961, the legal age for men and women were 16 and 14 respectively. The
new generation may no longer be familiar with Marcial “Baby Ama” Perez.
However, earlier generations can recognize this notorious person, who ironically,
gain folk hero status when his biography was turned into a movie in 1976.

Baby Ama was a minor executed via electric chair. He was nicknamed “Baby”
because of his baby face and youthful good looks. The nickname may sound
innocent, but Marcial Perez did not fit the definition.

Perez was imprisoned due to stealing money. It was said that he stole money
to help a friend. When Perez was put in prison, life became much harder for him.
Aside from being the subject of abuse and ridicule, his wife also committed suicide
due to being sexually abused by a prison guard. This is when Perez became fiercer
than he was. Aside from being a hit man inside the Bilibid prison, he was also the
leader of a notorious gang, Sige-Sige Gang.

Perez earned his notoriety when he spearheaded the biggest riot in Bilibid
prison. It was considered to be the most deadliest as well with nine inmates killed
and one of them beheaded. Perez was found guilty of stabbing a man to death.
Hence, he was sentenced to death by electric chair on October 4, 1961 at the age of
16.

Under the Section 6 of the Republic Act No. 9344 otherwise known as the
Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006:

A child fifteen (15) years of age or under at the of the commission of the offense
shall be exempt from criminal liability. However, the child shall be subjected to an
intervention program pursuant to Section 20 of this act.

A child above fifteen (15) years but below eighteen (18) years of age shall likewise
be exempt from criminal liability and be subjected to an intervention program, unless
he/she has acted with discernment, in which case, such child shall be subjected to
the appropriate proceedings in accordance with this act.

But, the exemption from criminal liability herein established does not include
exemption civil liability, which shall be enforced in accordance with existing
laws.

The fact cannot be denied that there are still minors who do not even undergo
any type of due process, guilty or not guilty. That said, one cannot simply dismiss
untimely death by random execution as collateral damage or worse, isolated case.
Once an epitome of notoriety, Baby Ama is now a case study. His behavior used to
make people embarrassed, but in the area of war pigs, violence is the new normal.
 Baby Ama’s final straw was when his pregnant wife was lured to a small hut
by a prison guard and was raped. The event proved traumatic to the couple as his
wife chose to commit suicide with their unborn child. That is were all hell broke loose.
He became a hit man inside the cell, rapidly disposing his tormentors and eventually
becoming leader of his own prison mob. He was credited for leading the biggest jail-
riot in Muntinlupa Penitentiary history and was sentenced to death via electric chair.

Moreover, in the movie “Anak ni Baby Ama” followed with the life story of his
son Kevin “Baby Ama” Calo, who was also sentenced to death via electric chair.
Kevin “baby Ama” Calo is not the son of Marcial Perez. He was named Baby Ama
because his life story inside the prison is more likely to Marcial Perez. He was also
became a leader in the prison where Marcial was imprisoned, and they both
electrocuted in the same reason. Or in other word, he is like the resurrection of
Marcial “Baby Ama” Perez.
 This study fits in with the theory of General Emotionality by Cyril Burt.
According to Burt, many offenses can be traced to either in excess or a deficiency of
a particular instinct on account of the tendency that many criminals are weak willed
or easily led.

Furthermore, the theory of Walter Bromberg also fits the case which claimed
that criminality is the result of emotional immaturity. Thus, the death of Baby Ama’s
wife and child causes him to be more emotional which leads him to do such offense.
A person is emotionally immature when he has no control of his emotion and when
he do not want to live at peace with himself and in harmony with the standards of
conduct which are acceptable to the society. Or in other words, emotionally
immature person rebels against rules and regulations.

In conclusion, because of the continuous existence of violence, crime

prevention and protection plays a significant role in reducing the level of crime. Also,
Criminal Justice System should apply better responses to crime and should do their
roles to identify and catch unlawful individuals to inflict a form of punishment on
them. It also includes the rehabilitation of offenders, preventing other crimes, and
moral support for victims. Nevertheless, different crimes are developing slowly into
more complex that is why support systems by the government are highly needed.