Children, who are mature minors at age 16 or 17, rarely commit crimes on their own and are usually directed by adult masterminds, said Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. Reacting to the results of an official online survey by the House of Representatives on lowering the minimum age of criminal liability, Santiago said the public disapproves of placing children under the criminal justice system.
“Criminal justice should never be a controlling paradigm for children, especially for those who have committed non-heinous offenses,” said Santiago.
“Even in heinous crimes, she said the intention should still be the child’s restoration, rehabilitation and reintegration. It is in these cases, where diversion could be utilized to help in the protection and rehabilitation of the child”, adds Santiago.
She reiterated her proposal made in an amendment speech on the original Juvenile Justice Bill in 2005 that for “non-heinous offenses,” children under 18 years should be totally exempt from criminal liability but can be subjected to a child welfare, restoration, intervention, and protection program to be determined by a social worker.
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