‘Scrap bills on crime responsibility age, ROTC’

MANILA, Philippines — Days before Congress goes on recess, various child rights groups called on lawmakers yesterday to stop the passage of the bills that seek to lower the minimum age of criminal liability and revive the Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC).

The groups, led by Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns, said both the Senate and the House of Representatives are eyeing the passage of the lowering of the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 12 years old and the revival of the ROTC for senior high school students before the session ends next week. 

“We are here to collectively voice out our call to all our legislators, listen to the public and vote against (lowering of the minimum age of criminal responsibility),” Eule Rico Bonganay, Salinlahi secretary general, said at a press conference in Quezon City yesterday.

Bonganay said Congress should reconsider its “persistent efforts” in advancing the bill amending the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act or RA 10630 to lower the minimum age of criminal liability and acknowledge the broad number of organizations, experts, individuals and institutions against it.

The House of Representatives passed House Bill 8858 that seeks to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 12 years on third and final reading early this week.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III filed a bill seeking to lower the minimum age of criminal liability to “above 12 years old,” while Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon wants to lower the age to 12 years.

Bonganay cited the recent killing of a 16-year-old youth in Davao after he allegedly resisted arrest.

“We fear that this kind of situation will continue especially if the minimum age criminal responsibility is lowered to 12 years old. The use of nanlaban (resisted) as the reason for shooting or killing children has long been frequent and it will further be justified if (it) becomes a law,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bonganay said House Bill 5113, which seeks to revive the mandatory ROTC for Grades 11 and 12 is “being railroaded in Congress.”

“The renewed proposal to revive ROTC in Congress fortifies the continuing culture of impunity among the youth, by instilling mercenary military tradition in lieu of the recognition of basic human rights,” he said. 

“These bills not only criminalize children but promote a culture of violence, terror and corruption among our youth,” he added.

The group reiterated its call to the Duterte administration to focus on resolving poverty that worsens the conditions of children instead of passing laws that are punitive, not rehabilitative.

“We now ask legislators to vote against these bills. They should heed the call of children, child rights groups and the majority of the public in the growing call to stop the lowering of minimum age of criminal responsibility and shoot down the revival of mandatory ROTC to Grades 11 and 12,” Bonganay said. 

A recent survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed majority of Filipinos want the minimum age of criminal responsibility to remain at 15 years.