Panelo slams UN rights expert, other critics of measure

Malacañang on Tuesday said critics of a bill that would lower the age of criminal responsibility for children from 15 to 9 years old should read the measure and understand its objectives before speaking against it.

“What I’m saying is before you open your mouth, you better know your facts,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in reply to critics, especially UN Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard.

Callamard said the approval by the House justice committee of the proposed law was “shameful.”

‘Shameful’

But Panelo countered it was Callamard who was “shameful” in the way she “intrudes into the sovereignty of this country.”

“She has no business of interfering with the affairs of Congress in the first place or with the executive,” he told reporters.

Callamard also described the House proposal as “dangerous and potentially deadly.”

Panelo responded, saying it was she who was “especially potentially deadly.”

He said the problem with critics was they only listened to the opposition and become biased against the government and its initiatives.

‘Sufficiently explained’

“I don’t think they have read the law,” he said, noting that some who made comments on radio found the measure was a good one after listening to its objectives.

Panelo said the main sponsor of the House bill “sufficiently explained” the measure.

‘Rehabilitated’

He said the bill would not jail these children with criminal liability but they will be “rehabilitated.”

“I think the bill is more directed against the criminals as well as the parents who allowed their children to be used by criminal syndicates,” Panelo added.

He said President Rodirgo Duterte would not interfere with Congress in approving the measure.

Panelo reiterated that the President did not want the age of criminal responsibility to remain at 15 years old.