By BEN R. ROSARIO
Manila, Philippines – An opposition congressman has sought the lifting of exemption from criminal liability guaranteed by law for youths above 14-years-old.
Rep. Pastor Alcover (ANAD party-list) said Congress should immediately amend Republic Act (RA) No. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 if it is serious on addressing the worsening crime situation in the country.
Alcover filed House Bill (HB) No. 6047 to lower the age of criminal liability of a person from 18 to 15-years-old. The bill also defines a child to be a person under the age of 15.
Under RA 9344, youths below 18 years of age who commit a crime will be exempted from penalties but subjected to an intervention program “unless he/she acted with discernment.“
Alcover argued that a youth above 14-years-old can already distinguish between right or wrong.
The party-list lawmaker explained s that by lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility, Congress will be addressing a 8 common complaint aired by law enforcement agencies against youthful offenders.
“Since RA 9344 took effect, many law enforcement personnel have complained that they felt powerless to take action on the public clamor to reign in on the rising incidents of crimes penetrated by under-aged offenders,“ he said.
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