Law is always protective of children: Panelo

“Senator (Richard) Gordon is introducing a bill in Congress amending certain provisions of the Revised Penal Code, that instead of… halimbawa, naging incorrigible iyong bata (for example, the child becomes incorrigible), sabihin mong whether 12 or 15 year old, hindi rin siya ikukulong (the child will not be imprisoned). Instead of jailing, community service na lang (only),” he said. (Photo: Wayne Lee-Sing/Unsplash)

MANILA – Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Thursday said the law is always protective of the children’s welfare amid ongoing debate on bill lowering the age of social responsibility from 15 years old.

“It’s not jailing them — it’s protecting them from criminal syndicates and punishing neglectful parents, because when you deprive custody of the parents, that’s a punishment,” Panelo said in a Palace press briefing.

Panelo said the bills being pushed in Congress do not aim to criminalize children but to introduce better rehabilitation measures.

“Senator (Richard) Gordon is introducing a bill in Congress amending certain provisions of the Revised Penal Code, that instead of… halimbawa, naging incorrigible iyong bata (for example, the child becomes incorrigible), sabihin mong whether 12 or 15 year old, hindi rin siya ikukulong (the child will not be imprisoned). Instead of jailing, community service na lang (only),” he said.

Panelo reiterated the position of the President Rodrigo Duterte on the proposal which is “always leave it to wisdom of Congress”.

He said the opposition lawmakers seem bent not to understand the objective of the proposed measure.

“The opposition is always, “Bakit natin kinukulong ang mga bata? (Why are we jailing children?)” Eh hindi naman nga kinukulong eh, hindi ko naman maintindihan ba’t hindi nila iniintindi (It’s not jailing children, I don’t understand why they seem not to get it). Parang mali iyong opposition eh, parang iba ang tinitingnan nila eh (The opposition seems to be looking at the wrong perspective),” he said.

The House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading a proposed bill lowering the minimum “age of social responsibility” from 15 years to 12 years old.

Oriental Mindoro Rep. Doy Leachon, chairman of the House committee on justice, said the proposed law uses the term “minimum age of social responsibility” (MASR) instead of minimum age of criminal responsibility to reflect the measure’s objectives.

Duterte earlier said he is “comfortable” with lowering the age of social responsibility to 12 years old.