Rep. Leachon says lowering age of criminal liability to 9 years old ‘pro-child’

Oriental Mindoro Representative Salvador "Doy" Leachon on Tuesday said the proposal to lower the minimum age of criminal liability was actually "pro-child," ensuring that child offenders will not be put in an ordinary jail with inmates.

Interviewed on GMA News TV's News To Go, Leachon explained that child offenders would be under mandatory confinement only if they had committed grave offenses.

"Hindi naman sila ikukulong. It is separated from an ordinary jail, they will not be mixed and mingled with ordinary inmates. Mandatory confinement only refers to a single case... Pag ikaw ay nakagawa lang ng ten exclusive offenses... murder, parricide, infanticide, homicide, rape , rape with homicide, robbery with homicide, carnapping, serious illegal detention and violation on dangerous drugs," Leachon said.

"Pag ikaw ay nine-years-old up to 15, mandatory ang confinement mo kasi serious 'yung crime. Pero pag ordinary, di ka naman ico-confine sa youth care facility," he added.

"Pag petty offenses lang, di ka ico-confine..." Leachon said.

Leachon, chairman of the House Committee on Justice, said those who would be put under mandatory confinement will have to "report" again before courts after a year to determine if they have been successfully reformed inside the youth facility.

"Ito within one year lang, magkakaroon sila ng progress report na they have to report again to the court. Doon ipapakita nila if the integration was successful and if there's a sign of reformation on the part of the child, they will be reintegrated to the family," Leachon said.

The justice panel approved the motion of Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro to approve the substitute bill to House Bills 2, 505, 935, 1609, 2009 and 3973—all seeking a lower age of criminal responsibility.

Under the bill, a child nine year old and below at the time of the commission of offense would be exempted 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.

Some senators already opposed the proposal, saying that the issue should be carefully discussed as the age of nine seems to be "too young" for criminal liability.

Leachon, meanwhile, urged critics of the proposed measure to read the entire bill.

"Ang aking pakiusap is read the law in its entirety... Doon mo makikita that this law is pro-children legislation," Leachon said.

He also vowed that House lawmakers would definitely provide funding for the proposal.

"We will fund it. We guarantee in Congress, we will assure this na ito nga ay popondahan... itatama ang pagkakamali ng lumang batas. We will assure the financing of Bahay Pagasa," he said. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News