DOJ submits stand on lowered age of criminal responsibility to Malacañang

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has submitted to Malacañang its position on the issue of lowering the age of criminal responsibility.

“Upon the request of the Office of the President, we submitted yesterday our position on the issue of lowering the age of criminal responsibility,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Wednesday.

“We will leave it to Malacañang to process our recommendation and make it known,” he added, refusing to give details of the recommendation.

As early as 2016, the DOJ already indicated its position on the matter.

Then Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre proposed that it be lowered to 13 years old. /gsg