House OK’s bill lowering age of ‘social responsibility’ to 12 years
Credit to Author: MARY GLEEFER F. JALEA| Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2019 11:18:46 +0000
THE House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading an amended bill, which lowers the minimum age of social responsibility (MASR) to 12 years.
Committee on Justice Chairman Salvador “Doy” Leachon said House members reached a consensus to settle the age, which initially set the minimum to 9 years old. The bill also changed the term “criminal” to “social” responsibility under the amended bill.
With Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo present on the floor, lawmakers passed via voice vote House Bill (HB) 8858, which amends Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.
“With the age of 12, some groups may not find it acceptable, but it’s always a rule of majority,” Leachon told reporters in a short briefing.
Children under the age of 12 have reached the stage of cognitive development, Leachon said.
With a limited number of lawmakers under the committee level, Leachon also reiterated that the plenary has the power to overturn or approve with amendments the proposal under the committee report.
Days after the House Committee on Justice approved the controversial bill lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) to nine years old, minority lawmakers addressed the need to look at the real issues instead of punishing the children.
Buhay Party-list Rep. Jose “Lito” Atienza Jr. urged fellow lawmakers to solve the root causes of juvenile crimes to achieve peace and order in the country instead of passing House Bill (HB) 8858, which was endorsed to the plenary for second reading.
“[Why don’t we address] the real issues? Police corruption, police inefficiency, lack of enforcement and effectivity, the criminal justice system is also corrupt. This is just an alibi for failure of society and the government,” Atienza told reporters in a news briefing.
“We strongly denounce this particular proposed law. It is a product of disoriented minds. Would you blame the children in applying peace and order?” Atienza said.
Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., who admitted that he was a drug addict in his teenage years before becoming a legislator, said that he was in favor of the measure lowering the age of criminal liability, but reiterated that nine was “way too low” for a child.
“In my experience during the days when I was doing drugs, I really saw how children [were being used by syndicates]. I saw that. I was even used. Such measure is needed because we can’t prosecute children. But I will go for the counterpart measure, which targets the minimum age of 12 instead of 9,” Teves said.
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