House's Arroyo moves to lower age of criminal liability

Former President and current House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday morning will move for the passage of a bill, in support of President Rodrigo Duterte's request, that would lower the age of criminal liability from 15 to nine years.

A statement from Arroyo's office said House Justice Committee Chairman Salvador “Doy” Leachon will conduct a committee hearing on the lowering of age of criminal liability on January 21 at 10 a.m.

The Committee on Justice will be tackling House Bill No. 505 filed by Tarlac Representative Victor Yap.

The measure, which had been pending with the panel since July of 2016, would amend Republic Act 10630.

Under the bill, a child nine years old and below at the time of the commission of offense shall be exempt from criminal liability, while those above nine years old but under 18 years old would be exempted from criminal liability unless the minor acted with discernment.

Also up for consideration in the committee was House Bill No. 2009, filed by Antipolo Representative Romeo Acop, which seeks to reinstate criminal liability of children above nine years who commit heinous crimes.

The move to lower the age of criminal liability to nine years has been contested by human and child rights advocates, including the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Save the Children, Child Rights Network, as well as the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). — Margaret Claire Layug/MDM/DVM, GMA News