Lowering age of criminal liability will worsen child labor, advocacy group says

The National Child Labor Committee (NCLC) said on Tuesday that lowering the minimum age of criminal liability would only worsen child labor in the Philippines.

“Considering misguided and abused nine-year-old children as criminals will only worsen child labor cases in the Philippines,” said Julius Cainglet, chairperson of the NCLC, adding that involving children in criminal activities was one of the worst forms of child labor.

“Our present laws clearly point to the children’s parents, guardians and most especially criminal syndicates who victimize children, as accountable for illegal or illicit activities that involve children,” Cainglet added.

The NCLC chairperson said the real perpetrators of crime would "easily escape criminal liability" if this proposed measure would be approved and be implemented.

Cainglet also said the government should protect and rehabilitate children who are gravely threatened.

"We should not punish our own children for society’s failure to care for, guide and bring up the child in the way the child should go,” Cainglet said.

“This would be a major setback for our internationally renowned efforts at ending child labor. It goes against our desire to amend child labor laws aimed at strengthening the NCLC towards providing more love, care and protection for our children,” Cainglet added.

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 years 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. —LDF, GMA News