Press Release
January 21, 2019

Sen. Bam: Lowering age of criminal liability to nine years old 'immoral'

Sen. Bam Aquino described as "immoral" the proposal lowering the age of criminal liability to nine years old.

"The laws that we have now, maybe there's room to tweak it, but to go this drastic to lower the age of criminal liability to nine is crazy, is cruel and to be honest, I think it's immoral," Sen. Bam said, referring to measures seeking to lower the age of criminal liability from 15 years old to nine.

While the House Committee on Justice has already approved the substitute bill lowering the age of criminal liability to nine, Sen. Bam is certain that the measure will not pass the Senate before lawmakers take their break in February.

"I absolutely doubt that this will pass the Senate. I think there's enough in the Senate currently who know that lowering the age of criminal liability to nine years old is completely out of bounds," said Sen. Bam.

"Hindi na ito dapat tingnan on a legal basis or a constitutional basis, siguro common sense lang. Iyong isa bang nine years old o 10 years old, ikukulong ba talaga natin?" added the senator.

Sen. Bam also expressed fear that if the government pushes for the restoration of the death penalty, some minor offenders will be imposed the capital punishment.

Sen. Bam said the government should help rehabilitate minors who have problems with the law rather than punish them for their actions.

The senator added that the Juvenile Justice Law must be properly implemented, including the establishment and the allocation of proper funding for Bahay Pag-asa that will help rehabilitate minor offenders.

"Ang dapat nating tutukan ay ang pagpapaganda at pagpaparami ng mga Bahay Pag Asa para makatulong sa pagbabago ng mga bata at hindi sa pagpaparusa sa kanila," said Sen. Bam.

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