(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte will not interfere in legislative work on the lowering of the age of criminal liability.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said on Tuesday, Jan. 22, that what was clear was that the President wants the age of criminal liability lowered.
“And we will leave that to the lawmakers…We will not question that,” Panelo said.
The House justice panel on Monday, Jan. 21, approved the lowering of the age of criminal liability from 15 years old to 9 years old.
Several senators, however, opposed the lowering of the age of criminal responsibility, saying, among others, that children in conflict with the law were “victims” who should be rescued and not punished.
Senator Tito Sotto has filed a bill seeking to lower the age of criminal liability to 13 years old instead.
The debate about whether the age of criminal liability should be lowered was reignited following the rescue of children aged 4 to 15 years old by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Navotas.
PDEA had said the children were being used as drug couriers and in other drug-related activities.
PDEA chief Aaron Aquino said President Duterte, who has been very vocal against illegal drugs, had plans of meeting with the children.
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