INTRODUCTION:

Crime is very prevalent in different countries in this world, it might be involve everyone, eldest,
teenager, and even an innocent child that didn't know much about the other things. In evert crime that
will be done has an obligation in law and there is an age resolute in every countries, if a person need to
be in jail or not that is what we called minimum criminal liability age. According to the information that
Aleta Nieva Nishimori gets, there is some countries in Asia that has a low criminal liability age, it is the
countries of Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar, and Brunei that has a lowest age for criminal liability which
is at the age of seven (7) years old that will commit any criminal cases can be put in jail or rehabilitation
center, because on their countries they believe that at the age of seven is enough foe child to
understand what will be happened on their act. It's not the only countries mentioned has a lowest
criminal liability age because it also proclaimed in the Philippines filed by Senate President Vicente
"Tito" Sotto III because there is a lot of teenagers and children involves in different crime like, using and
selling illegal drugs, rape, robbery, and others. And before this law proclaimed a lot if people against on
this, because it's not acceptable if a child will be put in jail. But Mindoro Rep. Anthony Leachon, chair of
House justice committee clear this issue, according to his statement if a child will be accused in any
criminal cases they will not be in the same jail like others prisoners but rather they will put on the
rehabilitation center like Bahay Pag-asa that Administered by Department of Social Welfare and
Development. Even though they clear up this issue many people still not agree about this Law.

BODY:

The first one who against in this law is the CHR commissioner Leah Tanodra Aramento, according to her,
the rehabilitation center or Bahay Pag-asa are not yet ready for this because there is just only 58 out of
114 facilities that should we have for those children in conflict with law. According also to CHR and other
groups, the government should pay attention on Republic Act 9344 or Juvenile Welfare Act for
Rehabilitation fund. According to UNICEF Philippines, Child Rights Network and Philippine Action for
Youth Offenders (PAYO), they are not allowed to low the minimum age of criminal liability because the
Philippines signed in the United Nation Convention on the rights of child, so it means government
should follow this for the protection of children Rights.

According to Psychological Association of the Philippines and humanitarian legal Assistant Foundation, it
should not be lowed at the age of nine (9) in minimum criminal liability, because the development of
child is not yet ready for this, even though they know how to distinguish the right and wrong but it's not
enough for them to know what can be the result of their act.

According to Youth Act Now "Instead of criminalizing children, the government

should demand accountability from syndicates and address poverty. Children deserve free education,
adequate healthcare access, and housing, not liability for something they were forced to do. Making
children criminals is not justice but a mere cover-up of the societal problems the government keeps on
burdening the people with."

Salinlahi Alliance for Children's Concerns "Children in conflict with the law together with their families
are victims of poverty, hunger, social inequality, and state neglect, but instead of addressing these
pressing socioeconomic issues, the Duterte government and his minions in the Philippine Congress are
consistent in promoting and pushing for anti-children and anti-people policies." "This is counterintuitive
with the government's intention of providing welfare and well-being to Filipino children and is a
violation to the commitments made by the Philippines to adhere to the Convention on the Rights of the
Child and other international treaties on child protection as a principal signatory."

According to Plan International Philippines "Aside from the lack of evidence to prove that punishing and
incarcerating children will result in crime reduction, scientific studies show that children below the age
of 16 do not have the maturity to discern right from wrong."

According to Senator Francis Pangilinan said the government should crack down on crime syndicates
using children instead of aiming to lower the age of criminal responsibility. Senator Grace Poe echoed
this sentiment, adding that the incarceration of juvenile offenders would be anti-poor since most of
them come from families that "have no meaningful access to legal services."

Detained Senator Leila de Lima pointed out that there is no study proving that lowering the criminal age
will prevent syndicates from exploiting children. The government should instead faithfully implement
the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act through programs that will reintegrate children into their families
and prevent their involvement in crime, she said

Senator Win Gatchalian also championed the full implementation of this law, saying child offenders
should be rehabilitated "through more constructive and nurturing means than outright imprisonment."
Authorities should allocate more funds and seek the help of various sectors to strengthen the
implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act if needed, added Senator Risa Hontiveros, who also opposed
the criminal age of 9.

Children aged 15 and below are not yet psychologically and emotionally mature enough to discern right
from wrong, added Senator Antonio Trillanes. Imprisonment "will severely traumatize those children
and would lead them further to a life of crime once they have served their sentence," he said.
The actress, who is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, took to Instagram on May 22 to speak out against
the proposal, which is up for debate as Senate resumes the 17th Congress.

Anne said she stands with the Council for the Welfare of Children, child protection experts, civil society
organizations, and other professional associations that oppose the proposal and instead pushes for the full
implementation of the existing Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (Republic Act 9344).

"I stand with them for NOT lowering the criminal age of responsibility but instead supporting the full
implementation of the current law of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act," she said in the caption of a photo
of her wearing a shirt that says "Children Not Criminals."

Under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, the minimum age of criminal responsibility is set at 15 years old.
This means that minors between age 15 to 18 who find themselves in conflict with the law may be detained in
youth centers and undergo rehabilitation programs. Those below the minimum age are exempted from criminal
liability and undergo intervention.

Anne stressed children in conflict with the law are still young and can still change.

"I understand that there are those who see differently but if you could only try and discern that they are STILL
CHILDREN, are victims of their circumstance and are still young enough to change their ways," she said.
"Instead of being penalized, they should have access to proper rehabilitation – where they can be properly
cared for to understand what they may have done wrong, learn to change their ways and be given a second
chance at life," she said

Conclusion:

We all want to have an orderly, systematic and safe living and all of us want to stop different crime in
our country, but before we pursue this we need to prioritize first the sake of others especially the
people who will be involve on this situation. That's why we can't others who's not agree on that law
because they just want to protect the children rights. Children are very young for this kind if situation
and issues, they can be affect mentally. We should help children to stop this not them to be victim.
Children will be the key someday to stop this kind of issue, so protect them and improve children rights.

Reference:

https://amp-rappler-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.rappler.com/entertainment/news/231294-anne-
curtis-continues-speak-up-against-lowering-minimum-age-criminal-
responsibility?amp_js_v=a2&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQEKAFwAQ%3D%3D#aoh=15681838220477&r
eferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2
Fwww.rappler.com%2Fentertainment%2Fnews%2F231294-anne-curtis-continues-speak-up-against-
lowering-minimum-age-criminal-responsibility

https://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/01/23/19/list-age-of-criminal-liability-in-some-asian-countries

https://www.0.freebasics.com/https/news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/22/19/ilang-grupo-eksperto-
pumalag-sa-panukalang-pagbaba-sa-edad-ng-pananagutan

https://www.0.freebasics.com/https/www.eaglenews.ph/panukalang-pagbaba-ng-minimum-age-sa-
criminal-liability-sa-phl-tinutulan/

https://www.0.freebasics.com/https/news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/22/19/senate-divided-on-lower-age-
of-criminal-liability

MENDOZA SHENA H.

G11- ABM