House justice panel to finalize bill lowering age of criminal liability next week

The House Committee on Justice is set to finalize the substitute measure for the bills seeking to lower the age of criminal liability as a priority matter of legislation, panel chair Oriental Mindoro Representative Salvador Leachon said on Thursday. 

In a statement, Leachon said the House panel will meet on Monday next week to finalize the substitute measure for House Bills 2, 505, 935, 1609, 2009 and 3973—all seeking a lower age of criminal liability—which it considers a priority legislation.

"In line the administration's efforts to curb violence and crime as important catalyst to economic growth, enhancement of family values and national development, the Committee on Justice considers the said bill a priority matter of legislation," Leachon said.

"The Committee recognizes that the youth is an integral part nation-building and the State must ensure and preserve their overall well-being," he added.

Leachon claimed that there has been an "alarming" increase in the number of syndicates that use minors in performing criminal acts. 

"It is but the time to pass this bill to protect your children from being used by ruthless and unscrupulous criminal syndicates to evade prosecution and punishment," he said.

"The current Congress gives utmost importance to legislative measures that ensure the safety of our future generations," he added.

Under these bills, the age of criminal liability will be lowered to nine years old from 15 years old.

Leachon is hoping that the measure will be enacted into law before the 17th Congress ends in June this year. — BM, GMA News