TV host, UNICEF goodwill ambassador wants criminal age threshold at 15

MANILA, Philippines — TV host and producer Daphne Oseña-Paez said the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) should remain at 15 years old because the law still needs to be fully implemented.

“I think, in keeping with what UNICEF is advocating, a restorative justice system for young people and keeping the current law at 15 [years old] and not lower it,” said Paez   during her conferment as the new National Goodwill Ambassador for United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) on Thursday.

“And in fact, make the law work because it works. It’s a good law. It’s just haven’t been fully implemented, so give it a chance,” she added.

Paez also shared her encounter with some children in conflict with the law (CICL) as part of her voluntary work with UNICEF.

“I got to see both government and private sector run programs dealing with restorative justice. I actually met one minor, a child in conflict with the law, who was able to turn his life around,” she shared.

“And I spoke with some of them and a lot of them completely forgot that they were even CICLs. I just saw them as young people and they were exposed to love, programs that help them get back in the right path,” she added.

The House of Representatives has already passed the bill lowering the MACR to 12 / gsg

READ: House OKs on final reading bill lowering age of criminal responsibility to 12