(Eagle News) — The Senate justice committee will recommend lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 15 years old to 12 years old.
Senator Richard Gordon, chair of the committee, himself made the statement in an interview with reporters after the hearing on the issue on Friday, Jan. 25.
The panel’s proposal is in line with the House of Representatives proposal that was passed on second reading on Wednesday, Jan. 23.
The current law, the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, pegs the minimum age of criminal responsibility at 15 years old.
President Rodrigo Duterte had vouched for the lowering of the minimum age of criminal responsibility, lamenting children were already being used by criminals in their illegal activities.