House panel swiftly okays lower age of criminal liability
Credit to Author: cbibe| Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 02:55:54 +0000
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives justice panel approved on Monday a bill lowering the age of criminal liability from 15 to nine years old despite strong opposition from various child rights group.
The committee gave its nod after Capiz 2nd District Rep. Fredenil Castro motioned for the approval of the bill which was seconded and approved despite objection by Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas. No voting took place.
Oriental Mindoro 1st District Rep. Salvador “Doy” Leachon earlier said that the “priority” measure, which they hope to pass into law before the end of the 17th Congress, was aimed at “protecting children from being used by ruthless and unscrupulous criminal syndicates to evade prosecution and punishment.”
READ: House bill lower age of criminal liability
House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has also backed the measure “in support of the request of President Rodrigo Duterte,” who has advocated for it since his election campaign in 2016.
As deliberations were happening, child rights advocates were holding a protest outside the House grounds to condemn the measure.
Lotta Sylwander, a representative of United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund Philippines, earlier slammed the proposal. She argued that “there is a lack of evidence and data that children are responsible for the increase in crime rates committed in the Philippines,” and “lowering the age of criminal responsibility will not deter adult offenders from abusing children to commit crimes.”
The justice panel tackled six bills lowering of age criminal responsibility and amending Republic Act No. 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006: House Bill Nos. 2, 505, 935, 1609, 2009 and 3973.
The House rules panel has yet to provide media with the copy of the harmonized bill.
In the Senate, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon filed Senate Bill No. 1603 seeking to lower the minimum age to 12 years old, while Senate President Vicente Sotto III filed SBN 2026 seeking to lower the age to “above 12 years old.” These bills will be tackled by the chamber’s justice committee on Tuesday. /cbb