We are on the affirmative side of adjusting the minimum Age of Criminally liable person to 13 years of

age.

Under the Republic Act No. 9344 also known as Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, it defines a
Child in Conflict with the Law as a child who is alleged as, accused of, or adjudged as, having committed
an offense under Philippine laws.

This law provided a minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility of (15) years of age or under.

What does this mean?

Well, it means, a child, who is 15 years of age or under at the time of the commission of the offense shall
be exempt from criminal liability, no imprisonment, only civil liability.

What is the reason? Because when the law was enacted, lawmakers believed that a 15 years old child
would never act with discernment.

Way back in 2015, a pediatrician was killed in San Mateo, Rizal, the suspect, a 13-year old, what
happened after? 13 year old was freed. No criminal liability, because he is 13 years old when he
commited the crime.

Last July, a 5-year old child was raped and brutally killed by his playmate, a 13 year old boy. Now, he is
free, because the law exempts him from criminal liability.

Earlier this year, a 12 year old killed his classmate because of bullying.

There are many more crimes committed by the less than 15 years old, but were all freed because the law
protects them. This is because the law assumes that they are not aware that they are commiting or have
committed a crime.

15 years old today are now more knowledgeable, they absolutely know that they are performing illegal
acts, they are certainly aware that what they are doing are considered crimes, hence, they know that they
are not liable.

Moreover, this exemption in law is being utilized by bad people, by syndicates using children in commiting
crimes like robbery, snatching, and even drug-related activities like selling drugs, which deviated the
purpose of the law.

It deviates from the very purpose of the law that children must be protected from any harm or liability by
reason of their innocence.

This world is changing, what is thought to be impossible before, is now possible, like what is thought to be
a non-destructive, forever innocent, 15 year old child, may now be considered a threat in our society.

This is the time to amend the law, to prevent a greater harm to our society, to prevent people in using
children as their means of committing crimes for their selfish benefits. For a better society, we are on the
affirmative side of adjusting the minimum Age of Criminally liable person.