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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 25) — A Senate panel resumed its hearings into the lowering of the age of criminal responsibility on Friday.
Senator Committee on Justice and Human Rights Chairperson Dick Gordon said discussions will revolve around possibly holding parents of children in conflict with the law liable for the crimes committed by the sons and daughters.
“People think it’s not a discretion of age but a question of when does accountability begin. And at the same time whether the government is truly ready to say that when you keep or hold a young person, can you hold me a decent half-way home,” Gordon said.
Gordon said the Philippines only has 55 of the supposed 111 Bahay Pag-asa centers–facilities where children in conflict with the law will be raffled off to under the Juvenile Justice Act.
“If we don’t put our money where our mouth is, this is all rhetoric,” he added.
The Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act was amended in 2012 to require children from 12 to 15 who commit crimes like murder, homicide, kidnapping and offenses punishable under the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002 to be placed in a special youth care facility called “Bahay Pag-asa.”
Gordon also slammed those who claim there are no funds available for the rehabilitation of child offenders.
“There is always funding available, it’s a question of priority,” he said.
The House of Representatives approved on second reading Wednesday a bill that would lower children’s responsibility for crimes from 15 years old to 12.
The lower House earlier posed to hold children nine years old and up criminally liable, but solons have agreed to raise it amid criticism with senators.
Senate President Tito Sotto claimed a majority of senators agree with the House bill.
