Palace on lowered age of criminal liability: Nine is fine
MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Monday voiced its support to the House bill lowering the age of criminal liability from 15 to nine years old, and stressed that it will discourage adults from tapping minors to carry out illegal activities.
“Sa akin puwede na ang nine (years old). Considering nga the modern technology, ‘yung nine parang equivalent na sa 12, 15 years old, may discernment na e,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
To me, nine is fine. Considering today’s technology, age nine is like equivalent to 12, 15 years old because they already have discernment).
“Sa Criminal Law, kapag may discernment ka na, you know what is bad and good e may problema ka sa batas. You will be accountable,” he added.
(In Criminal Law, once you gain discernment, you know what is good and bad, you can be held accountable).
The House of Representatives Justice committee on Monday approved a bill lowering the age of criminal liability from 15 years old to nine.
READ: House panel swiftly okays lower age of criminal liability
In previous speaking engagements, President Duterte has been calling for the amendment of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 authored by Senator Francis Pangilinan, which he tagged as the one behind the rise in the number of “people of criminal minds.”
READ: Duterte blames Pangilinan for juvenile justice act, rise of ‘criminal minds’
Panelo, however, stressed that the enactment of the proposed measure will depend on the lawmakers, adding that the President only asked for the age of criminal liability lowered but did not cite a specific age bracket.
“That’s the call of Congress. It’s Congress who will make the law, the President did not say naman particular nine (years old), he just wants it lowered. Nasa kanila na ‘yun,” he said./gsg
