STATEMENT OF SEN PANGILINAN ON CBCP POSITION ON JUVENILE JUSTICE

We thank the Catholic Church for taking the side of children, even if they have misbehaved or are in conflict with the law. We welcome the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines' statement expressing its opposition to attempts in Congress to lower the age of criminal responsibility.

As author of the Juvenile Justice Act, I am grateful to the Catholic Church for using its moral authority to echo my position that the State should go after those who use children for their crimes -- organized syndicates protected by corrupt police and public officials -- and not the exploited children who need the State to perform its duty to protect them.