Ano Ang Layunin Ng Gobyerno Bakit Kailangan Pang Ibaba Sa 12 Ang Minimum Age Of Criminal Responsibility/Liability

Ano ang layunin ng gobyerno bakit kailangan pang ibaba sa 12 ang minimum age of criminal responsibility/liability

 

MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday, February 4, hit critics of the bill seeking to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 12 years old, saying the proposal is "pro-poor." (READ: Beyond juvenile delinquency: Why children break the law)

"Some would say that the proposed measure is anti-poor since most of the children in conflict with the law and the children at risk come from families that have no meaningful access to legal services," Sotto said in his speech as co-sponsor of the bill.

"To this, I say: actually this proposal is pro-poor. Since children in poor families do not have access to quality education and are being exposed to violence in their own family and communities, the government is stepping in to provide these children with education and training. Their parents failed to attend to the needs of their children, and the government, with the proper implementation of the law, will be able to rehabilitate and provide better future for these children as responsible members of the society upon their reintegration," he added.

Sotto is among the proponents of the Duterte-backed bill seeking to lower the age of criminal liability from the current 15 years old to 12 years old. To push his point, Sotto presented news clips of minors involved in rape, murder, and robbery, among others.

Sotto reiterated that under the measure, children in conflict with the law aged 12 years old and above would not be kept in jail with hardened criminals, but in rehabilitation centers.

"Sinisiraan ang mga pabor sa amendment ng mga salitang, Grabe naman sila, 12 anyos pa lang ikukulong na nila. Sobra naman sila, isasama ang mga 12 years old sa mga harderned criminals sa kulungan. Etc, etc. Lowering the threshold to 12 years of age simply means that the government and the state can intervene in conflict situations involving its young citizens with the end in view of providing them guidance and a chance at reformation," Sotto said.