PNP supports proposed lowering of criminal liability

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde said Monday that he supports the proposed lowering of age of criminal responsibility to 12 years old.

“We are supporting the proposal of the good senator. We are just getting inputs from the different regions and legal service pero sinusuportahan natin yung panukala na ‘yon,” he said.

Albayalde was referring to the Senate Bill 2026 that was filed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III for the amendment of the Republic Act (RA) 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, which exempts children aged 15 and below from criminal liability.

Sotto said the RA 9344 is being used as defense by criminal syndicates who use children as their accomplices in illegal activities.

“This bill will finally give clarity to the true intention of the law. The amendment to the law will institutionalize the criminal liability of teenagers who commit serious criminal offense,” Sotto said.

“Not only was the law abused by criminals but the innocence of these youngsters was deliberately taken from them,” he added.

Youth oriented groups have slammed Sotto’s proposal.

However, Albayalde noted that in some countries, there is no exception in criminal liability, which in some countries is as low as six years old.

“Remember sa napakaraming foreign countries una wala nga silang (age) limit. In some countries there is even six years old, seven, may 10 pa nga sa ibang countries. I think we fully support ‘yung pagbaba nung age of criminal responsibility na pinupush,” he said.