00:00The Philippine National Police or PNP are ready to submit a position paper with regards to Senator Robin Padilla's proposed amendment on the existing Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.
00:11Orion Lasigas reports.
00:16Lawmakers are now engaged in a heated discussion on lowering criminal liability in the country.
00:21This comes after Senator Robin Padilla filed a bill seeking to amend the existing Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 to ensure the law remains just.
00:31Under this, anyone aged 10 to 17 years old is not exempt from any criminal liability if they commit heinous crimes such as parricide, murder, and infanticide.
00:42If the child aged 15 to 18 years old is a repeat offender and the offense is not heinous, they will be required to undergo a community-based intervention program.
00:51The PNP said they support the proposed law.
00:54However, PNP Chief Police General Nicolás Torre III immediately clarified this should be based on proper scientific evidence.
01:02He added that among the matters to be considered is whether the current age limit for criminal responsibility in the country is still applicable or if youth awareness has already become too advanced due to their broader access to information at a young age.
01:17May mga studies tayong dapat i-consider kung yung current na age limits ay applicable pa ba or baka naman ang kamalayan ng mga bata ay naging masyadong mataas na dahil nga sa access nila sa information.
01:37Nonetheless, Torre clarified that they are leaving the decision to lawmakers while the PNP is also set to submit a written paper to convey their position on the matter.
01:46This is one of our legislative agenda na ibibigyan natin sa ating kongreso para magkaroon naman kami ng boses kung mag-revise ng batas regarding sa mga juveniles natin.
