By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA
MANILA — The Save the Children Philippines (SCP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) opposed Congress’ move to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 15 to nine years old.
In a statement, SCP said the proposal, which is being finalized at the House of Representatives, would not be for the best interest of the children.
“This will only push them to further discrimination, abuse and eventually, into more anti-social behavior,” the group said.
“What we need is for the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act to be fully implemented with clear programs and services for prevention, response, and the reintegration of children back into their families and communities,” he added.
Meanwhile, UNICEF cited the “lack of evidence and data that children are responsible for the increase in crime rates committed in the Philippines.”
It stressed that pushing through with the proposal will not deter adult offenders from abusing children to commit crimes.
“Lowering the age of criminal responsibility is an act of violence against children,” the UNICEF said in a statement released Friday.
UNICEF explained that children exploited by adults to commit crimes must be protected and not further penalized.
Citing scientific studies, it noted that brain function reaches maturity only at about 16 years old.
“Proposals to lower the age of criminal responsibility argue that children as young as nine years old are criminally mature and are already capable of discernment. If this was the case, then why is the legal age to enter marriage, legal contracts and employment in the Philippines at 18 years old?” it said.
It further underscored the risk of exposing these children from cohabiting with hardened criminals in jail, while waiting for their sentence for the crime they committed.
“Branding children as criminals removes accountability from adults who are responsible for safeguarding them. If children who have been exploited by criminal syndicates are penalized instead of the adults who abused them, we fail to uphold the rights and well-being of children,” it stated.
The House committee on justice, chaired by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Doy Leachon, will hold a hearing on Monday to repeal the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, by lowering the age of criminal liability from 15 years old to nine.
Leachon earlier said the House bill is considered a “priority matter of legislation.”
On the other hand, a similar bill filed at the Senate seeks to set the minimum age of criminal liability at 13.
