House lawmakers blast Padilla’s bill lowering age of criminal liability

Metro Manila, Philippines - Two House lawmakers have blasted Senator Robin Padilla’s proposed bill seeking to lower the age of criminal liability from 15 to 10.

In separate statements on Sunday, July 20, Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima and Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co said the proposed bill does not address the issue of criminality.

De Lima said a child who has lost his/her way, should be cared for and given hope instead of being punished in jail.

“We do not fix a broken justice system by putting its weight on the smallest, weakest shoulders. We fix it by asking hard questions: Bakit may batang nalululong sa krimen? Sino ang tunay na nakikinabang sa mga pagkakasalang ito? Saan tayo nagkulang bilang lipunan?” she said.

[Translation: Why are there children exposed to crimes? Who truly benefits from these crimes? Where did we lack as a society?]

De Lima also stressed the difference between jailing children and rehabilitating them is “life changing” as what she witnessed when she was justice chief.

Co, meanwhile, questioned what she calls anger toward children and Padilla’s protection of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been detained in an International Criminal Court facility for his bloody drug war.

“Walang batang kusang papatay ng kapwa tao dahil lang protektado siya sa pagkakulong,” she said.

[Translation: No kid would be encouraged to kill just because he/she is protected from jail time.]

“Bakit gusto niyong iligtas sa paglilitis si Rodrigo Duterte na mastermind ng mga heinous crimes na pumaslang ng libo-libong kabataan habang pangulo, pero ang mga batang nagkasala, gigil na gigil kayong habuling mapakulong? Ang mga bata, kahit pa labis ang paglabag, pwede pa magbago — pero ang matandang walang konsensiya sa kasalanan niya, hindi na,” Co said.

[Translation: Why do you want to spare Rodrigo Duterte from trial when he is the mastermind of heinous crimes that killed thousands of youth while he was president, yet you want children who committed mistakes to be jailed? Kids, even if they violated much, can still change - but an old man without remorse, not anymore.]

Co pushed for a livable wage and access to quality education, saying these will make children grow into a patriotic and humane individual.

As for de Lima, the implementation of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act should be strengthened as the law is already “progressive and rooted in restorative justice.”