Davao City Councilor Antoinette Principe said the lowering of the criminal age of liability in the Philippines will definitely not affect the “child friendly” status of the city.
The lawmaker from the third congressional district of Davao City said that prior to the proposed bill authored by Senator Tito Sotto, the city was already implementing ordinances that address the needs, not only of children in conflict with the law (CICL), but also of those who are at risk of becoming one.
“Because of our ordinances that created programs for the CICL, we had attained our title as the ‘child friendly city’ in the country,” Principe said.
The human rights lawyer said barangays like Mintal have special programs for teenaged delinquents, that can be replicated in other barangays in the city. She did not elaborate the programs.
Principe, who serves as the committee chairperson on civil, political and human rights, said that the Philippines is not yet ready to cater to more juvenile delinquents once the lowering of the criminal age of liability will be enacted into law.
She said that unlike in the United States, the country does not have a strong juvenile justice system.
“Here in the Philippines, we don’t even have a juvenile court and center to cater to young offenders,” Principe said.
She said that she is not in favor of lowering the criminal age of liability to nine years old, as proposed by the House of Representatives. However, she said that the Senate’s proposed age, which is 12, is deemed acceptable.
“The proposed age (12) is acceptable to the signed United Nation’s bill for the protection of the children’s rights,” she said.
The re-electionist councilor said that she understands President
Rodrigo Duterte’s purpose of lowering the age of criminal liability is to
protect them from abuses, including being used as drug couriers.
Principe said that the law intended for children in conflict with the law must have a “restorative” approach, not “punitive”.
“Since the bill has been certified as urgent by the president, perhaps his plan is for the betterment of everyone. We’re hoping that the law will have a positive note,” Principe said.
The current Juvenile Justice Act, filed by Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, that sets 15 as the lowest criminal age of liability, has met criticisms, including from President Duterte.
