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Lowering age of criminal liability still among Sotto's pet bills


Lowering the age of criminal liability from the current 15 to 13 years old was still among Senate President Vicente Sotto III's priority bills in the 18th Congress.

According to Senate Bill No. 5, filed by Sotto on Monday, children below 18 years but above 12 years of age during the time of the commission of a crime would be held liable "unless proven that he or she acted without discernment."

Meanwhile, children aged nine to 12 years who committed "serious crimes" such as parricide, murder, and infanticide would be mandatorily placed in the Bahay Pag-asa youth center.

The measure would also mandate all local government units to allocate funding for the construction of rehabilitation centers for juvenile delinquents.

Earlier this year, the House of Representatives of the 17th Congress approved the lower age of criminal liability, which they pegged at 12 years old

A counterpart bill in the upper chamber, Senate Bill 2026, was also filed by Sotto during the last Congress.

Sotto's pet bills in the 18th Congress also include increasing the number of doctors in rural areas through scholarship grants to medical students; establishing a detention program and facility for high-level drug offenders; creation of Presidential Drug Enforcement Agency; creation of the Dangerous Drugs Court; amendments to RA 9372 or the Human Security Act of 2007; implementation of "hybrid elections" at the local and national level, as well as in the Bangsamoro region; increasing the penalty for the crime of perjury; prohibition of publication and circulation of fake news; and providing 14th month pay for private sector employees. —  Dona Magsino/DVM, GMA News

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