Incoming Speaker wants age of criminal responsibility lowered to 9

President Rodrigo Duterte's top ally in the House of Representatives has proposed further lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 15 years old to nine as a deterrent to the use of youth in the commission of crimes.

House Bill 002 filed by incoming Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro seeks to bring back the minimum age of criminal responsibility as stated in the Revised Penal Code.

The lawmakers believe time is ripe for the age of criminal responsibility to be lowered to 9 years old considering the youth  can easily access information through technology.

"Most children above this age, especially in these times when all forms and manner of knowledge are available through the internet and digital media, are already fully informed and should be taught that they are responsible for what they say and do," they said.

For Alvarez and Castro, the youth should be taught to accept responsibility for their actions and words "as early as possible, and not to unduly pamper them with impunity from criminal responsibility upon reaching the age of nine."

Under the measure, offenders aged nine and above but below 18 years old shall be exempt from criminal liability and subjected to an intervention program unless they are determined to have acted with discernment, in which case they shall be subjected to appropriate proceedings in accordance with the proposed law.

Meanwhile, those below nine years old at the time of the commission of an offense shall be exempt from criminal liability but will be subject to an intervention program.

The bill states that exemption from criminal liability does not include exemption from civil liability.

During the campaign season, Duterte said he wanted to lower the age of criminal liability from the current 15 years old to 12 because the youth have been exploited by organized crime groups.

The use of youth in violating the law was also cited by Alvarez and Castro in seeking the passage of HB 002, saying adult offenders "knowingly and purposely" make use of individuals below 15 years old to commit crimes such as drug trafficking because they know children cannot be held criminally lauble for their actions. —ALG, GMA News