Reducing age of criminal responsibility should be ‘carefully considered,’ Guevarra says

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said lowering the age of criminal responsibility may deter drug syndicates from using children in their operations, as he suggested that Congress reevaluate laws that may have been exploited by criminals.

In a speech at a summit on the dangerous drugs law at the Manila Hotel on Thursday, Guevarra said proposals to reduce the age of criminal responsibility "must be carefully considered" as part of the government's efforts to combat the illegal drug trade.

He said the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, which exempts children aged 15 and below from criminal responsibility, has been used by drug dealers and syndicates "who have used children as drug couriers precisely because of the protection granted to them by law."

"As it now stands, the law enacted to protect and care for our children has incentivized their exploitation and engagement into the shady world of drug trafficking and dealing," the Justice chief said.

In an interview after his speech, Guevarra said he is only suggesting that the age of criminal responsibility be one of the matters Congress should consider as it examines laws to bolster a "holistic approach" in fighting illegal drugs.

"Somehow if you reduce the age of criminal responsibility to maybe something like 12, eh baka mahihirapan na mga criminal syndicates who use very young children in their nefarious activities," he told reporters.

A proposal to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 12 years old was approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives of the 17th Congress. But the same measure is pending at the committee level of the 18th Congress. — RSJ, GMA News