MANILA – The Malacañang said Congress may introduce provisions to a proposed bill lowering the age of criminal liability that will punish “neglectful parents” of children who have committed crimes.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said President Rodrigo Duterte believes that the parents should also be conscious of their children’s criminal accountability.
“Baka Congress can introduce provisions to that. Na (that) in case of children committing crimes, parents proved to be neglectful then they should also be accountable,” Panelo said.
He added: “I think there should be some kind of punishment to the parents also if they are neglectful either deliberately or recklessly. Supposed to be the parents are the trainors of children, the molder of children to become righteous individuals and good citizens.”
Panelo however said it was just a suggestion from President Duterte but it will still be the Congress who has the last say on the provisions of the pending bill.
The Palace official also assured anew that children aged nine-years-old but below 18 years of age will not be imprisoned but will instead undergo “rehabilitation.”
Panelo said: “I think the opposition is based on the incarceration of children. Hindi yata alam ng marami that this, iyong nine-years-old eh dati nang batas iyon eh – for decades iyon ang ating batas, wala namang nagrereklamo doon ever since.”
The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading a bill which aims to lower the age of criminal liability from 15 years to 12 years, not nine as earlier proposed./PN
