Bureau seeks help against ‘anti-child’ bill

The Children’S Legal Bureau (CLB) appealed to the Cebuano community to help them oppose House Bill No. 2, which seeks to lower the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility (MACR) to nine years old.

The bill, drafted by Rep. Fredenil Castro (Capiz) and co-authored by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and several members of the Hous, introduces amendments to the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (RA 9344), already previously amended by Republic Act 10630.

Lawyer Joan Amit, CLB chair, said that the bill, which is among the Duterte administration’s legislative priorities, will be discussed by Congress today. The current minimum age is 15 years old.

Amit said that CLB opposes the draft amendment because children who are only nine years old do not possess the discernment to decide to commit a crime.

Castro’s position is that even at nine years old, children “in these times when all forms and manner of knowledge are available through the internet and digital media, are already fully informed and should be taught that they are responsible for what they say and do.”

Amit said it has always been CLB’s position not to repeal RA 9344.

“The Philippines for a long time did not have a separate justice system for children when they come in conflict with the law. Filipino children have been treated in the same manner as the adults when they commit crimes,” Amit said. “This law corrects this situation given that children are different from adults and must be treated according to their age as well as the circumstances of the offense.”

RA 9344 raised the minimum age of criminal responsibility from nine to 15. In his introduction to his bill, Castro wrote: “While the intent of protection of the Filipino youth may be highly laudable... (the effect of the law has been) the pampering of youthful offenders who commit crimes knowing they can get away with it. Worse, adult criminals knowingly and purposely make use of youth below 15 years old to commit crimes, such as drug trafficking, aware that they cannot be held criminally liable.”