Lower age of criminal liability pushed

In support of the request of President Rodrigo Duterte, House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will spearhead the passage of a bill to lower the age of criminal liability from 15 years to nine.

The House Committee on Justice, chaired by Salvador “Doy” Leachon is set to conduct a hearing Monday on the measure to lower the age of criminal liability.

According to a statement from the House, Arroyo will attend the hearing to show her support for the approval of the measure.

The Justice Committee will tackle House Bill 505 filed by Victor Yap which seeks to amend RA 10630 to lower the age of criminal liability of children. It has been pending with the committee since 27 July 2016.

Innocence, innocent With a proposed law to bring down the age of criminal liability from 15 to 9, the Catholic Church has made the call for the protection of children. Still, many crimes are being committed by not-so-innocent kids. (YUMMIE DINGDING) Also for consideration during the committee hearing is House Bill 2009 filed by Rep. Romeo Acop which seeks to reinstate criminal liability of children above nine years who commit heinous crimes.

Under House Bill 505, a child nine years old and below at the time of the commission of the offense shall be exempt from criminal liability.

Those above nine years of age but under 18 years old shall also be exempted from criminal liability unless they acted with discernment.

A child offender who is nine years and below shall be released to the custody of his parents or nearest relative.

However, the child must be subjected to community-based intervention program supervised by the local Social Welfare and Development unless, for his best interest, it is determined that he should be referred to a child youth facility or Bahay Pagasa managed by the local government unit or a licensed and accredited non-government organization monitored by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.