7. “AGE OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY”
By The Philippine Star
October 3, 2018
8. WHAT IS THE ISSUE?
The minimum age of criminal
responsibility continues to divide
opinions.
9. To amend Republic Act
9344: Juvenile Justice and
Welfare Act of 2006
SEC. 6. Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility. -
A child fifteen (15) years of age or under at the
time of the commission of the offense shall be
exempt from criminal liability. However, the child
shall be subjected to an intervention program
pursuant to Section 20 of this Act.
11. Points of the pro
• Criminal syndicates are exploiting the
provisions of RA 9344 by using minors
in the commission of crimes.
• This proposal is necessary in setting an
example for these misbehaved and
unruly children.
12. Points of the opposition
• “ACTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN” - UNICEF
• It will criminalize them before they even realize the
full impact of their deeds. – The Outstanding Women
in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS)
13. HOW DID IT BECOME AN
ISSUE?
…because apparently, in
a Filipino culture, fifteen
of age, so much more for
twelve years of age to be
very young and very
much in need of
guidance.
14. …because more young Filipinos will
be facing punishments by being
drawn and used into crimes like drugs
when in the first place, they are
victims of child labor and abuse.
16. References:
Unlisted. (2018, October 02). EDITORIAL - Age of criminal responsibility. Retrieved from
https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2018/10/03/1856736/editorial-age-criminal-responsibility
Ateneo Says No To Child Criminals. (2017, January 25). Retrieved from
http://ateneo.edu/news/ateneo-says-no-child-
criminals?fbclid=IwAR0yMr0yCrU9PaX2q6TuNVnHgZA8zpW3ZFTf2Ny1gAYr3qtBJnrre4hrx74
Romero, P. (2018, September 26). Tito Sotto files bill lowering age of criminal liability. Retrieved from
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/09/26/1854844/tito-sotto-files-bill-lowering-age-criminal-
liability?fbclid=IwAR1itRMNAPLotwzvfbUI1V9APskJiwD_j4aJkgmBdjwhYOvjnTStRpFCL9Q
UNICEF: Lowering age of criminal liability 'act of violence against children'. (2019, January 19). Retrieved from
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/19/19/unicef-lowering-age-of-criminal-liability-act-of-violence-against-
children
Editor's Notes
What we know about the issue:
What we know about the issue:
Bill proposed by politicians such as Vicente Sotto III & Franklin M Drilon
To amend RA 6344 Section 6 Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act. Of 2006
Concerning the minimum age of crime responsibility.
18 and above,
15-18
15 and below
What we know about the issue:
Bill proposed by politicians such as Vicente Sotto III & Franklin M Drilon
To amend RA 6344 Section 6 Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act. Of 2006
Concerning the minimum age of crime responsibility.
PNP, Tito Sotto etc.
Utilizing anymore younger than 12 would be counter-intuitive for them as they would seem ineffective to their illegal operations.
Resurgence of cases involving children involved in criminal activities also lead the public to believe that this proposal is necessary in setting an example for these misbehaved and unruly children.
- videos children 15 and below beating each other to death
- dragging old man out of public utility vehicle to steal
UNICEF,
Children are already victims, and that they should go after the syndicates
TOWNS
It will not shield them
Lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility in the Philippines became an issue because of 2 major reasons
First, Nin mentioned previously the Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice Law of 2006 Sec 6. which talks about the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility which is fifteen years of age…fifteen years of age…which to us, Filipinos is still considered very young, very much in need of guidance and support both by the parents and by the government. The age of minority which is eighteen, is already enough and obvious to say that a fifteen year old is too young to not just to deserve but really take in all the consequences of his actions that will soon crush his supposed brighter future…and then came this amendment. The congress, apparently decided that the minimum age be 9 years of age, then last minute, changed it to 12. This has caused shock and rallies all across the country, because we know that instead of adjusting ages, the focus must be on how to improve the intervention programs that are supposed to help these young individuals with trying to improve their lives or at least try to let them live like how a normal twelve year old Filipino should without the danger of having to do such actions again.
Second, aside from the shock of how low the minimum age has become, this issue is a concern for every Filipino especially those children that the syndicates, drug lords and other criminals who use them to perform their crimes. You can just imagine how the current situation the country is in right now, specifically on the current Duterte administration, on how anyone who has anything to do or the lack thereof with drugs is treated. We have heard of several men killed almost every day especially when the so called TOKHANG has just started. The gruesome scenarios won’t end but to think that there are innocent and powerless children age 13 and above who are drawn into these situations, can now be imprisoned “unless he acted with discernment” when in fact these children are victims of child labor and abuse.
It’s in fact terrifying to think that the real criminals are out there doing whatever their next step will be while the children who work for them, who are not as well trained and wicked as they are to hide from the law, are arrested and punished while the drug lords and biggest syndicates remain safe and rich and untouched by a single law should have in a very long time ended them.
Lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility in the Philippines became an issue because of 2 major reasons
First, Nin mentioned previously the Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice Law of 2006 Sec 6. which talks about the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility which is fifteen years of age…fifteen years of age…which to us, Filipinos is still considered very young, very much in need of guidance and support both by the parents and by the government. The age of minority which is eighteen, is already enough and obvious to say that a fifteen year old is too young to not just to deserve but really take in all the consequences of his actions that will soon crush his supposed brighter future…and then came this amendment. The congress, apparently decided that the minimum age be 9 years of age, then last minute, changed it to 12. This has caused shock and rallies all across the country, because we know that instead of adjusting ages, the focus must be on how to improve the intervention programs that are supposed to help these young individuals with trying to improve their lives or at least try to let them live like how a normal twelve year old Filipino should without the danger of having to do such actions again.
Second, aside from the shock of how low the minimum age has become, this issue is a concern for every Filipino especially those children that the syndicates, drug lords and other criminals who use them to perform their crimes. You can just imagine how the current situation the country is in right now, specifically on the current Duterte administration, on how anyone who has anything to do or the lack thereof with drugs is treated. We have heard of several men killed almost every day especially when the so called TOKHANG has just started. The gruesome scenarios won’t end but to think that there are innocent and powerless children age 13 and above who are drawn into these situations, can now be imprisoned “unless he acted with discernment” when in fact these children are victims of child labor and abuse.
It’s in fact terrifying to think that the real criminals are out there doing whatever their next step will be while the children who work for them, who are not as well trained and wicked as they are to hide from the law, are arrested and punished while the drug lords and biggest syndicates remain safe and rich and untouched by a single law should have in a very long time ended them.
This is issue is just one of the many other ones circling the country, that gives a lesson and a wake up call to us as a nation and especially to the government, to focus on empowering the younger generation, whether they have been involved to a crime or not, instead of adjusting ages and changing minds on the very last minute before having the amendment approved. Well, another amendment that is obviously unnecessary and wrong has and will change lives, but this mistake should not stop us from doing something about it. Parents, guardians, authorities and even friends of every Filipino, especially the minors should be protected and guided with utmost care now that they can be drawn to any crime and be legally liable for their acts. Even though I mentioned that a fifteen or thirteen year old Filipino is still considered young, the change must also be within everyone of any age. The younger, the better to teach children the right from wrong, to report when they are being abused and to stand for their rights regardless of age.
