House OKs on final reading bill lowering age of criminal responsibility to 12
Credit to Author: ggaviola| Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2019 09:41:51 +0000
MANILA, Philippines — The bill seeking to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) to 12 years old has been approved by the House of Representatives on the third and final reading.
During the regular session on Monday, with a vote of 146-34, House members voted to pass the heavily-scrutinized House Bill 8858.
The original version of HB 8858 from the House committee on justice placed MACR at nine years old.
It was passed swiftly, but sparked outrage and drew stiff opposition from religious leaders, celebrities, members of opposition blocs, and civil society groups.
Previously, Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo explained that their support for HB 8858 is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s desire to prevent organized crime syndicates from tapping children for illegal activities.
Duterte has included lowering the MACR as a part of his legislative agenda.
He has also openly criticized R.A. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.
According to the President, the law and its author, Senator Francis Pangilinan, are to blame for the rise in the number of ‘criminal minds’.
READ:Arroyo on age of liability: It was what Duterte wanted
Last January 22, children’s rights advocates denounced the move by Congress, explaining that majority of crimes nationwide – around 98 percent – are still being committed by adults.
They also called out lawmakers supportive of the bill, saying that the measure will only bring more problems than solutions, especially since facilities supposed to house the minor-offenders are not for humans. /gsg
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