MANILA, Philippines — While it supports the proposed measure lowering the minimum age of criminal liability from 15 years old to nine, Malacañang said Monday parents of children involved in illegal activities should also be held accountable.
“From the point of view of the President, ang mga parents dapat may liability rin kapag pinapabayaan nila iyong mga anak nila o they allowed them to be used in criminal activities,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
Asked what punishment should be given to parents who neglected their children, Panelo said: “Eh di kulong, or maybe they will be deprived of parental custody over the children, masakit iyon kapag tinanggalan ka ng parental custody sa mga anak mo.”
Panelo, who is also Duterte’s chief legal counsel, made the remark after the House justice committee approved earlier Monday a proposed law seeking to lower the age of criminal liability to nine years old.
During the same briefing, Panelo also expressed support to the House panel’s measure, noting how it will discourage adults in using children in their illegal activities.
READ: Palace on lowered age of criminal liability: Nine is fine
Duterte has been pushing for the amendment of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, which sets the minimum age of criminal liability at 15 years old.
Duterte said the law, which was authored by Senator Francis Pangilinan, has produced “people of criminal minds.”
READ: Duterte blames Pangilinan for juvenile justice act, rise of ‘criminal minds’
Panelo, however, noted he will ask Duterte first if he agrees with nine years old as minimum age of criminal responsibility. /kga