Younger teens may have to start taking more responsibility for their actions if Philippine Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III gets his way.
A statement released by the Senate website today says that Sotto has filed Senate Bill 2026, which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 that exempts children 15 years old and below from being jailed.
Sotto believes this is too old, even by international standards, and wants to lower the age of criminal liability to 13 years old.
He cited a study conducted by the Child Rights International Network that says the average minimum age of criminal responsibility in Asia and Africa is 11, while in the United States and Europe, it’s 13.
Sotto said in the statement: “Due to the continuing challenge in the implementation of RA 9344, as amended, the aforesaid law must be further amended to lower the minimum age of criminal liability in order to adapt to the changing times.”
Sotto said that criminal syndicates are exploiting the provisions of RA 9344 by using minors in crimes and in the illegal drug trade.
He also cited viral videos wherein children ages 15 and below were seen beating each other to death, another wherein an elderly man was dragged out of a jeepney by a group of kids, and another wherein street children were taking the earnings of a jeepney driver.
The proposed bill wants those below 18 years of age but above 12 to be liable for their crimes and be subjected to the appropriate proceedings unless proven that the child acted without discernment.
Aside from that, children above 9 years old to 12 years old that commit serious crimes such as parricide, murder, infanticide, kidnapping, and homicide shall be deemed as “neglected children” under the Presidential Decree 603 or the Child and Youth Welfare Code. They shall be placed in a special facility within the youth care faculty or Bahay Pag-asa.
In April 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte slammed Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan for authoring the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act as he said it produced “people with criminal minds.”
In 2016, Duterte also expressed his desire to lower the minimum age of criminal liability from 15 years old to 9 years old.
Netizens voiced their thoughts about Sotto’s proposed bill over social media:
Twitter user @ASuyong said that she wasn’t a Tito Sotto fan, but she feels the bill has been long overdue. “This time, the Senator is right.”
Not a Tito Sotto fan but this bill is loooong overdue. This time, the Senator is right.👍 https://t.co/IgOhSwKUE1
— ASuyong (@ASuyong) September 25, 2018
Twitter user @ThrevOller also said in Filipino that Sotta finally did something right and joked: “Lower the legal drinking age to 16 hehe.”
Ayan tito sotto may nagawa ka ding maayos, pababaan na din ng legal age ng pag inom to 16 hehe https://t.co/JdPDU4ygEb
— Battousai🗡 (@ThrevOller) September 25, 2018
Yah Bhet wrote: “Good idea, so the kids will be scared [of the law]. Now adays (sic). They are a new era of gangster’s (sic) on the street. And they will become notorious someday if this (sic) kids continue the bad habits.”
Facebook user Robert Smith said they should strengthen efforts in nabbing syndicates instead of punishing minors.
He said in a mix of English and Filipino: “Syndicates exploiting minors… then [you] punish the minors? Wow [you’re a] genius! What if you just strengthen your efforts to apprehend the syndicates!”
Ruel Ferreras echoed the sentiment, sarcastically saying to include toddlers in the bill.
“So you want to pass a bill that punishes the exploited rather than pushing a bill that imposing (sic) a heavier penalty for the exploiter. Why not include the todler (sic) since todler (sic) can be commanded to bring illegal stuffs (sic) to other person(s).”
“That’s better than changing the Filipino anthem,” wrote Jorgito Meric.
Last week, Sotto suggested changing a phrase in the national anthem’s lyrics which for him sounded “too defeatist.” This was met with backlash from netizens.
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