- 5 hours ago
At what age should a child be held criminally responsible for a serious crime?
The killing of a 46-year-old woman allegedly by her 15-year-old son in Panglao, Bohol, has reignited discussions on the age of criminal responsibility and how the justice system should handle minors accused of committing serious offenses.
Should the law consider lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility? Or should the focus remain on rehabilitation, prevention, and understanding the circumstances that lead children to commit crimes?
As calls for accountability grow, questions also arise about child protection, parental guidance, and the role of the justice system in addressing juvenile offenses.
Where should we draw the line between accountability and rehabilitation?
Join us on Beyond the Headlines as we look deeper into this pressing issue.
Look Deeper. Think Better.
The killing of a 46-year-old woman allegedly by her 15-year-old son in Panglao, Bohol, has reignited discussions on the age of criminal responsibility and how the justice system should handle minors accused of committing serious offenses.
Should the law consider lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility? Or should the focus remain on rehabilitation, prevention, and understanding the circumstances that lead children to commit crimes?
As calls for accountability grow, questions also arise about child protection, parental guidance, and the role of the justice system in addressing juvenile offenses.
Where should we draw the line between accountability and rehabilitation?
Join us on Beyond the Headlines as we look deeper into this pressing issue.
Look Deeper. Think Better.
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00:54Should age still determine the extent of criminal responsibility?
01:00Good afternoon and welcome to BND Health.
01:15Music
01:15Music
01:16Music
02:18Should age still determine the extent of criminal responsibility?
02:23Good afternoon and welcome to BND Headlines.
02:26I'm DJ Moises and today's conversation is brought to us by Coffee First.
02:30When a 14-year-old or a 15-year-old commits a serious crime,
02:36particularly one that results in loss of life,
02:39we are once again confronted with such difficult question.
02:43Let's look deeper and think better.
02:46A 15-year-old admitted killing his 46-year-old mother at their home in Panglao, Bohol.
02:54Police Major Joseph Lupena, spokesperson for the Provincial Police Office in Bohol,
03:01said Panglao police initiated contact with a teenager who eventually confessed to killing his mother.
03:08Investigators said the boy allegedly attacked his mother after she reprimanded him for cutting classes.
03:16The argument reportedly escalated into a physical confrontation,
03:20prompting him to strike her on the head with a hammer several times.
03:25He then allegedly dragged her body about 30 meters from their house
03:30and dumped it inside an old septic tank, which he covered with stones.
03:36Police said the teenager initially told investigators that he last saw his mother on the evening of October 30
03:43when she told him she would travel to Tagbilaran City at around 9 p.m.
03:48The suspect also claimed that the following morning he just noticed that his mother had not returned home before he
03:56left for school.
03:57Lupena said investigators learned that the teenager was reportedly a good student and an athlete
04:04with no known vices and no known regular group of friends.
04:08Authorities also found that he had reached a high level in the online game Roblox.
04:14Lupena said the teenager had been turned over to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office for appropriate intervention.
04:24So this is a heartbreaking incident involving a mother and then her child,
04:33as well as a devastating tragedy to the community, to the family, and also the relatives of Rhea Ermoguera,
04:46the 46-year-old single mother.
04:48And this is also a tragedy on the part of her child for allegedly committing the crime
04:55because this will also change his life forever.
05:00And so our deepest thoughts and sympathies to the family, to the community,
05:06and also the relatives of the victim and also her child.
05:13So now this type of incident, once again, brought us back into a reflection
05:22because this type of incident is a chance for us to take a pause and reflect,
05:30how could a disagreement between a mother and her child graduated into a tragedy,
05:40a devastating tragedy?
05:42So one of the questions, Siguro, that we would be asking is,
05:47what's the circumstance surrounding the family?
05:50Another question that we should ask is,
05:55were there warning signs?
05:58Another question also that we should be asking is,
06:02were there underlying problems that were left unnoticed?
06:06And the reason why I'm asking these three questions,
06:10because it is also my expectation that social welfare experts,
06:17as well as our investigators should take these questions also into account.
06:24Now, the incident, once again, brought into the surface a difficult national conversation
06:34because as we noted, there were already incidents,
06:39and I'm referring to the previous school shootings that transpired also earlier this year,
06:47and all of them were allegedly committed by minors.
06:52And it's still up for clarification,
06:55but at least the last information that I could remember,
06:58they are also committed by 15-year-olds and below.
07:03So that's why this particular incident that happened in Bohol
07:07became another opportunity for us to engage into a difficult national conversation.
07:15And what is this conversation?
07:17When a 15-year-old is involved in a crime as serious as this one,
07:25what should justice look like?
07:28How do we balance accountability?
07:34Because a wrongdoing is actually done,
07:37and then there was also harm that was done,
07:40and it's a serious harm.
07:42At the same time, the rights of a child,
07:46because this is an incident that involved a minor,
07:50a 15-year-old minor.
07:52And at the same time,
07:55we also need to have a better conversation
07:58in putting all these factors together.
08:00How must we protect society?
08:05And one of the most difficult questions also
08:08that people are asking once again is,
08:11is the juvenile justice system adequately equipped
08:16to prevent incidents or serious crimes such as this
08:21that are committed by 15-year-olds and below.
08:25So personally, this is not just a debate
08:29about possibly lowering the age of criminal responsibility
08:34because now I'm also seeing more and more of that on social media.
08:38But for me, this is actually beyond that question,
08:42whether we should lower the age of criminal responsibility.
08:47But it is also a question about parenting.
08:52It is also a question about family support.
08:56We've highlighted actually in our past episodes,
09:01especially those covering the school shooting,
09:05that I also recognize that parenting at this time
09:09is also harder compared to before.
09:13Because aside from the difficulty
09:15that our families are also experiencing
09:18because of the economic environment
09:22that they are exposed in the Philippines,
09:24then a lot of parents are also working very hard
09:28to make both ends meet.
09:29And some of them don't already have that much time
09:32to be present,
09:33whether physically or emotionally for their children.
09:36And that's a valid ground also
09:38because a lot of them are working overtime
09:40and they're also very tired the moment they go home.
09:45The second also is we recognize that
09:47now that relationships of their children
09:49have also moved online.
09:52So unlike in the past in which parents had an idea
09:55who the playmates are
09:57or who are these kids that their children are hanging out with,
10:02they have an idea of the type of family
10:04that these kids belong,
10:06kinsa ilang mga ginikanan,
10:07but karoon because a lot of the relationships
10:10of their children have already moved online,
10:12they don't have that same visibility at all.
10:16So that's why this question is not just about lowering
10:22the age of criminal responsibility,
10:26but this is also a chance for us
10:29to take a closer look about parenting,
10:31family support,
10:33mental and social development,
10:35and community intervention.
10:37Because these are also the institutions
10:40that are supposed to protect
10:41both children and the people around them.
10:46So given all these that are happening,
10:50is this also the time for us
10:52to review the age of criminal responsibility
10:55in the Philippines?
10:56Because while I said that,
10:58what I also mentioned that this is beyond that,
11:01but I think this is also a good question to ask,
11:05because according to psychologists,
11:09if the child is not yet developmentally mature enough
11:14to fully understand the consequences
11:17of his or her action,
11:20then the response to this
11:22is not necessarily exposing them
11:25in a much more punishing environment,
11:31such as to be jailed with other adults
11:35who are allegedly criminals,
11:38but to actually respond in such a way
11:41that there is more effort on rehabilitation
11:45rather than criminal punishment.
11:49So what does the law actually provide?
11:52Although we covered this already
11:53in our previous episodes,
11:54but for those of our viewers
11:56who are not very familiar just yet about the law,
11:59this is also a good time for us to refresh.
12:02Now, the law under Republic Act 9344,
12:06which was amended by RA 10630,
12:10actually said that for children age 15 and below,
12:1615 and below,
12:18they are exempt from criminal liability.
12:22And so they are subject to intervention
12:25and rehabilitation.
12:27But for those who are above 15,
12:31but below 18,
12:34a criminal proceeding may apply
12:37if the child acted with discernment.
12:41So the question here is,
12:43what do we mean by discernment?
12:47Under the Philippine law,
12:49it's the social worker
12:51that makes the initial assessment,
12:53whether there really was discernment.
12:56So among the many tools
12:59that's being used by DSWD,
13:02in a nutshell,
13:03what that tool seeks to surface
13:06is whether the child understood
13:08the difference between right and wrong
13:11and the consequences of such action.
13:16And the social services worker
13:19prepares the report
13:21and then submits that to court.
13:25And then,
13:26and this is, again,
13:27this is for how do
13:30the court determine discernment.
13:32So this applies to above 15 to 18.
13:35So once this is submitted,
13:38the report is submitted as an evidence,
13:40then it is subject for the court
13:44to independently evaluate the facts
13:47and circumstance.
13:49And the burden falls on the prosecution
13:53that the child above 15 to 18
13:57is really proven beyond reasonable doubt
14:01that the child acted with discernment.
14:05So that's what happens
14:06when a child is about 15 to 18.
14:12Discernment must be determined
14:14whether the child understood right, wrong,
14:18and the consequences of the action.
14:19And then that's when above 15 to 18,
14:25they can,
14:26I mean,
14:27the process can proceed
14:28to the criminal justice system.
14:31But for those 15 and below,
14:34it's rehabilitation.
14:36No, because they belong to
14:38the age
14:40that is not within
14:43criminal responsibility.
14:46No?
14:46So,
14:47now,
14:47this is also something that
14:49a lot of people,
14:51including myself,
14:52have also overlooked in the past
14:54because
14:55naman po yung mga questions
14:57about
14:57repeat offenders
14:59if we call it that way.
15:01And the law already provides
15:03stricter intervention
15:05for certain
15:06serious crimes
15:08committed by children
15:09within this range.
15:12up to 15.
15:14So again,
15:14maunis sila ang katong
15:15children who are exempt.
15:17No?
15:18Exempt from criminal responsibility.
15:21So for children,
15:2212 to 15,
15:24na nakakomit
15:25or serious offenses,
15:26no?
15:27Including murder,
15:29rape,
15:30or certain drug offenses,
15:32they must be placed
15:33in an intensive
15:35juvenile
15:36intervention
15:37and support center.
15:39So there's really,
15:40there's really a group
15:42that will receive them,
15:44no?
15:44And then,
15:45from the term itself,
15:47intensive
15:47juvenile
15:48intervention
15:49and support
15:50center.
15:51and they are placed
15:53there for at least
15:54a year.
15:55So maunis ang katong
15:56mga serious offenders
15:57or repeat offenders,
15:59no?
16:00And then,
16:01they are subjected
16:02to,
16:02from the name itself,
16:04intensive
16:04intervention.
16:07The law
16:08does not
16:09automatically
16:10send them
16:11to prison
16:12and make them
16:14criminally
16:15liable,
16:16no?
16:16Because,
16:17again,
16:17if they are 15
16:18and below,
16:19the appropriate
16:20intervention
16:22per law
16:23is rehabilitation
16:24and social
16:26intervention,
16:27no?
16:28So,
16:28what does the program
16:30actually involve?
16:31So,
16:32this is supervised
16:32by the local
16:33social welfare
16:34and development
16:36officer,
16:37no?
16:37So,
16:38un sa man
16:38nga mga
16:39organizations
16:40or mga
16:40agencies,
16:42no?
16:42That,
16:43that actually
16:45provide
16:46intervention.
16:47Maunis ang katong
16:47madunggan na to,
16:48nga ka nang
16:49bahay,
16:50pag-asa.
16:51So,
16:52this is,
16:53this is the,
16:54the center
16:55that they are
16:55brought to.
16:56So,
16:57un sa man
16:57ang kinahanglan
16:58for them
16:59to be brought
17:00to those,
17:00to that center,
17:02no?
17:02First,
17:03there has to be
17:04consent of the
17:05parent and
17:06the guardian,
17:08no?
17:08If wala siya
17:09parent or guardian,
17:11it's the DSWD
17:12or the local
17:14social welfare
17:15and development
17:16officer
17:16ang mo
17:17provide
17:18o appropriate
17:18petition
17:19for involuntary
17:21commitment.
17:22Now,
17:23now,
17:25in the wake
17:25of the shootings
17:26in Tacloban
17:27in June,
17:29Sambwanga
17:30in August,
17:31and kani,
17:31wala kayo ni siya
17:32ni Gawasan News,
17:33but there also
17:34was a shooting
17:35incident in
17:36South Cotabato
17:37just last
17:38September.
17:39And now,
17:39this case
17:39in Bohol,
17:41these are
17:42precisely
17:42questions,
17:43no,
17:43supposedly,
17:44more of our
17:45senators and
17:46our congressmen
17:47should have been
17:49having this
17:49conversation,
17:50but,
17:51ang nakasad lang
17:52aniniya,
17:53it's because
17:53medyo a lot of
17:55them are also
17:55busy with
17:56other stuff,
17:57with the
17:58insertion,
17:59or justifying
18:00why the
18:01insertion was
18:02not theirs,
18:03or whatever
18:04is preoccupying
18:05them,
18:06na imbis
18:07on ta matagaan
18:08po ni siya
18:08o kanyang
18:11prioritization,
18:12I'm not saying
18:13na we completely
18:13disregard
18:14kanyang
18:15the side
18:16that kept
18:17men busy,
18:17which is
18:18political,
18:18also in
18:19nature,
18:19but what I'm
18:20saying is,
18:21this is
18:22becoming even
18:23more urgent,
18:23no,
18:24to have this
18:24type of
18:25conversations.
18:26The other
18:27thing also
18:27na-notice
18:28at least
18:29on my
18:29experience
18:30where I
18:30am at,
18:31it's also
18:31very hard
18:32to get
18:32lawmakers
18:33or politicians,
18:35our government
18:36leaders,
18:37to make
18:38comments
18:38such as
18:39this,
18:39because
18:39I feel
18:41sorry,
18:41because
18:44algorithm
18:45and social
18:46media,
18:47a lot
18:47of our
18:47politicians
18:48are just
18:48on standby
18:49kung kanyang
18:50sila
18:51musakay
18:51sa issue,
18:52but sadly,
18:53matters like
18:54this also
18:55would require
18:55guidance
18:56from them,
18:57because as
18:58we can see,
18:59nagsunod-sunod na
18:59ning ang mga
19:00incidents
19:01involving
19:0215-year-olds
19:04and below.
19:05So now,
19:06let's take a look
19:07at the statistics,
19:08and we have
19:09graph actually
19:10to support that,
19:10and this is my
19:11cue to,
19:11yes,
19:12to our
19:13technical team.
19:14If you look
19:15at the graph
19:16that you are
19:16seeing on screen,
19:18so this is
19:19the rate,
19:20so,
19:22kanyang mga
19:24children in
19:25conflict with
19:26the law,
19:27so muna ay
19:27pasabot
19:27anang CICL,
19:29children in
19:31conflict with
19:32the law,
19:32and if you look
19:33at the diagram,
19:34this is from
19:34the period of
19:352016 until
19:362025,
19:37while there was
19:38a sharp increase
19:39in 2017,
19:40but lahos-lahos
19:42sige lang
19:42iyang decline
19:43until 2022,
19:45ni-spike siya
19:46gamay into
19:472023,
19:48ni Naog na
19:49po siyag
19:492024,
19:50ni Saka na
19:51po siyag
19:51balik 2025.
19:52But in the
19:53overall,
19:54we can see
19:54that for
19:55children in
19:56conflict of
19:57the law,
19:57there is an
19:58overall
19:59decreasing trend,
20:01no?
20:01Ni-spike lang siya
20:02in 2023
20:03and 2025,
20:06no?
20:06So,
20:07and then,
20:07if we look
20:08at the
20:08report also
20:10from the
20:10juvenile justice
20:12welfare
20:13council,
20:1562%
20:17actually
20:18of those
20:18recorded
20:19are committed
20:2016 to
20:2117.
20:22So,
20:23kung ang
20:23question na
20:24to is,
20:25ahaman-ani
20:26ang percentage
20:27committed by
20:28katong
20:28exempt by
20:29the law,
20:3015 and
20:30below,
20:31it's only
20:3238%.
20:33So,
20:34this data
20:34will tell
20:35us na
20:35mas daghan
20:36ang crime
20:38that's being
20:39committed by
20:40those above
20:4115.
20:42But for
20:4315 and
20:44below,
20:44it's only
20:4538%
20:46of the
20:47total,
20:48no?
20:48And then,
20:49on the
20:50next chart,
20:51we would
20:51see nga
20:52unsaday ni
20:52ang mga
20:53typical
20:53crimes
20:54that are
20:55unfortunately
20:56committed,
20:57no?
20:59Majority
21:00of them,
21:01as you can
21:01see from
21:01the chart,
21:02is actually
21:02rape,
21:03That's
21:042,524.
21:07Followed by
21:07murder,
21:08and then
21:09parricide,
21:10and then
21:11infanticide,
21:12and then
21:13kidnapping
21:14with
21:14serious
21:15illegal
21:16detention.
21:16And these
21:17are,
21:17as we can
21:17see on
21:18the cases,
21:20these are
21:21serious
21:21cases,
21:22especially
21:23rape.
21:24But another
21:25disclaimer also
21:26for us to
21:27have a better
21:27appreciation of
21:28the chart,
21:29this is not
21:29an unwell
21:30chart,
21:31no?
21:31What you are
21:32seeing is
21:32in the
21:32period of
21:34five and
21:35a half
21:36years,
21:37no?
21:37Not
21:37unwell
21:38figures.
21:39The other
21:39thing also,
21:40so what
21:41does this
21:42two charts
21:43actually
21:43would tell
21:43us?
21:44Yes,
21:45rape is
21:46on top,
21:47no?
21:47Of the
21:48cases that
21:49are committed
21:50by children
21:51in conflict
21:52of the law,
21:53and this
21:53is the data
21:54within a
21:55five-year
21:55period,
21:56and then
21:57if we look
21:58at the
21:58trend,
21:59it's
21:59decreasing
21:59overall,
22:01no?
22:02Except for
22:02some
22:02spikes,
22:03and then
22:04majority
22:04of those
22:05are actually
22:06committed
22:0717 and
22:08above,
22:09no?
22:09Only 38%
22:10are committed
22:11by those
22:12exempt,
22:13no?
22:13By criminal
22:14liability.
22:15Now,
22:16the other
22:16thing also,
22:17which the
22:18next chart
22:18would show,
22:19will address
22:20a question
22:21kung how
22:22effective is
22:23our
22:23intervention.
22:25So,
22:26now,
22:26the figures
22:27that you
22:27would see
22:28on the
22:28chart
22:28are actually
22:29contradictory
22:30because on
22:32the upper
22:32part,
22:33we could
22:33see that
22:34successful
22:35integration,
22:36meaning after
22:37the intervention,
22:38kumusta sila
22:39after?
22:40Are they
22:41integrated
22:42successfully
22:42back to
22:43the community?
22:44The success
22:45rate is
22:45actually 94%.
22:48No?
22:49Ang repeat
22:50offenders
22:51are just
22:526%.
22:53So,
22:53there's a
22:54good story
22:54there.
22:55But if I
22:56may also
22:57invite you
22:57to look
22:58on the
22:58lower
22:59side,
22:59that's why
22:59I said
23:00this is
23:00contradictory
23:01because there
23:02is a
23:03total of
23:04118
23:05Bahay
23:06Pag-asa
23:07facilities.
23:08So,
23:08mauni siya
23:08ang katong
23:08areas in
23:09which there's
23:10an intensive
23:11intervention
23:12for
23:12juvenile
23:13offenders,
23:14but only
23:1533 of
23:16the
23:17118.
23:18So,
23:18that's
23:1933%.
23:20Ang naay
23:21nag-offer
23:22intensive
23:22juvenile
23:24intervention.
23:25So,
23:25that's my
23:25question
23:26actually.
23:27Is this
23:28also
23:28a question
23:29of
23:30implementation?
23:31No?
23:32Again,
23:32taas ang
23:33success rate
23:33which is
23:34good,
23:34but can you
23:35imagine
23:36how much
23:36we can
23:37do
23:37better
23:38if
23:38all
23:39of
23:39our
23:40118
23:41Bahay
23:42Pag-asa
23:42facilities
23:43nationwide
23:44offer
23:45intensive
23:46juvenile
23:47intervention?
23:48So,
23:4933%
23:51lang
23:52ang
23:52equipped
23:52nakaabot
23:53na manganit
23:53taog
23:5494%
23:55successful
23:55integration.
23:57How much
23:57more
23:57if all
23:59of
23:59these
23:59118
24:00are
24:01actually
24:01equipped?
24:02Now,
24:02the reason
24:03why I'm
24:03presenting
24:03this
24:04is because
24:04I'd also
24:05like to
24:05surface
24:05is this
24:06just a
24:07question
24:07of
24:08lowering
24:09the
24:09minimum
24:10age
24:11of
24:11responsibility?
24:13This
24:13is beyond
24:14that
24:14question
24:15because
24:15we
24:15also
24:15have
24:16to
24:16take
24:16a
24:16look
24:16at
24:17kumusta
24:17ang
24:17implementation
24:18sa
24:19existing
24:20law.
24:20Is it
24:21effective
24:22ba?
24:22Before
24:22we
24:23give up
24:23on
24:24it?
24:25That
24:26also
24:26explains
24:26that
24:27UNICEF
24:28argued
24:28against
24:29lowering
24:30the
24:30threshold
24:30because
24:31kasi-kasi
24:31naman
24:32yung
24:32version
24:32ever
24:33since
24:33the
24:34incident
24:34on
24:35Bohol
24:35happened,
24:36makita
24:36na
24:36pagkos
24:37ako
24:37ang
24:37Facebook
24:37page.
24:38There
24:39are
24:39certain
24:39quarters
24:40that
24:40suggest
24:42na
24:43move
24:43na to
24:44minimum
24:44age
24:45of
24:45criminal
24:45responsibility
24:46from
24:4715
24:48to
24:4812.
24:51UNICEF
24:52actually
24:53counters
24:53against
24:54that
24:54because
24:55again,
24:56they
24:56also
24:57believe
24:57na
24:57for
24:5815
24:58and
24:59below
24:59what
25:01they
25:01need
25:01is
25:02community
25:03based
25:04rehabilitation
25:04not
25:05being
25:06labeled
25:06as
25:07criminals
25:07and
25:07then
25:07be
25:08brought
25:08in
25:08an
25:08environment
25:09with
25:09other
25:10criminals.
25:11And
25:11as
25:11far
25:12as
25:12the
25:12government
25:12agencies
25:13in
25:13the
25:14Philippines,
25:15the
25:15Department
25:15of
25:16Interior
25:16and
25:16Local
25:17Government
25:17is
25:18in
25:18agreement
25:18of
25:19lowering
25:20the
25:20age
25:20of
25:21criminal
25:21responsibility
25:22and
25:22so
25:23are
25:23the
25:23National
25:23Youth
25:24Commission.
25:25They
25:25are
25:25in
25:25favor
25:26of
25:27revisiting
25:28the
25:28minimum
25:29age
25:29of
25:29criminal
25:30responsibility.
25:31So
25:31at
25:31this
25:31point,
25:32it's
25:32also
25:33interesting
25:33for
25:33us
25:34to
25:34see
25:34what
25:35our
25:37viewers
25:37or our
25:38followers
25:39are also
25:39thinking.
25:40Should
25:40we,
25:41is this
25:42already
25:42time
25:42to
25:43lower
25:43the
25:44minimum
25:45age
25:45of
25:45criminal
25:46responsibility
25:47from
25:4715
25:48down
25:48below.
25:49So
25:49let's
25:49watch
25:50some
25:51comments
25:52also
25:52coming
25:52from
25:53our
25:53followers.
25:54So
25:55this
25:55is
25:55coming
25:56from
25:56Ingrid
25:57Kate
25:58Dakay
25:58of
25:59Cebu
25:59Normal
26:00University.
26:00She
26:01said
26:02that
26:02lowering
26:03the
26:03minimum
26:03age
26:04of
26:04criminal
26:04responsibility
26:05should
26:06not
26:06be
26:07the
26:07first
26:07solution
26:08because
26:09not
26:09all
26:09children
26:10who
26:10commit
26:10crimes
26:11are
26:11bad.
26:12While
26:12they
26:12must be
26:13held
26:13accountable
26:14and
26:14victims
26:15deserve
26:16justice,
26:16we
26:17must
26:17also
26:17understand
26:18why
26:18children
26:19become
26:20involved
26:20in
26:20crimes.
26:21The
26:21government
26:21should
26:22address
26:22the
26:22root
26:22cause
26:23through
26:23stronger
26:24parental
26:24guidance,
26:25education,
26:26and
26:26rehabilitation.
26:27Personally,
26:28I would
26:28agree
26:29with
26:29what
26:29Ingrid
26:30actually
26:30say.
26:32Yes,
26:32it's a
26:33good time
26:34for us
26:34to revisit
26:35whether
26:35it's
26:36time to
26:36lower
26:36the
26:37minimum
26:37age
26:37of
26:38criminal
26:38responsibilities
26:38but
26:39let's
26:39take
26:39a look
26:40at
26:41how
26:42is
26:42parenting,
26:43how
26:43is
26:44proper
26:44support,
26:45how
26:45is
26:45social
26:45intervention,
26:47how
26:47are
26:47institutions
26:48that
26:48are
26:49supposed
26:49to
26:49protect
26:50mothers
26:50and
26:51their
26:51children
26:51and
26:52then
26:52the
26:52people
26:52around
26:53them.
26:55And
26:55then
26:55the
26:55other
26:56comment
26:56also
26:57is
26:57coming
26:57from
26:58Christian
27:00also
27:00from
27:01Cebu
27:01Normal
27:01University,
27:02Christian
27:03Riuyan,
27:04he actually
27:04said,
27:05for me,
27:05the issue
27:06of lowering
27:07the minimum
27:07age of
27:08criminal
27:08responsibility
27:09is not
27:10just about
27:11punishing
27:11children
27:12but
27:12understanding
27:13why they
27:14commit
27:14crimes.
27:15And I
27:15will have
27:16to
27:17commend
27:17this
27:18to
27:18young
27:19students
27:20because
27:20they
27:21really
27:21want
27:22to
27:22understand
27:23the
27:24issue
27:25on
27:25why
27:26these
27:26children
27:27actually
27:28commit
27:29crimes.
27:30Do we
27:30have
27:30another
27:31one?
27:32Oh,
27:33from
27:33Cebu
27:33Normal
27:34University.
27:37This
27:37one
27:37is in
27:38support.
27:39So,
27:39John
27:39David
27:40Maamo
27:40actually
27:41said,
27:41I
27:41support
27:42lowering
27:43the
27:43minimum
27:43age
27:44of
27:44criminal
27:44responsibility
27:45provided
27:46it is
27:47backed
27:47by
27:48legal
27:48reforms
27:49and
27:50age
27:50appropriate
27:51penalties.
27:52However,
27:53children
27:53should not
27:54be treated
27:54as
27:55adults.
27:56Their
27:56discernment,
27:57psychological
27:57development,
27:58and capacity
27:59for
27:59rehabilitation
28:00must be
28:01considered.
28:02Accountability,
28:03due process,
28:04rehabilitation,
28:05and restorative
28:06justice must
28:07remain central
28:07while protecting
28:08the victim's
28:09rights.
28:09I think
28:11while
28:12John
28:13is in
28:14agreement
28:14with
28:14lowering,
28:15but he
28:15is also
28:16one with
28:16the other
28:17two students
28:18who said
28:19we must
28:20understand
28:20the root
28:21cause,
28:21we must
28:22understand
28:23the
28:23available
28:24process,
28:25because
28:26John
28:26highlighted
28:27age
28:28appropriate
28:30intervention.
28:31And there's
28:32a balance,
28:32and I
28:33agree with
28:34this,
28:34between
28:34accountability
28:35because a
28:36harm has
28:36been done,
28:37but at
28:38the same
28:38time,
28:39there are
28:39also
28:39rights of
28:4015-year-olds
28:41that we
28:42need to
28:42also
28:43protect,
28:43and how
28:44we can
28:44find the
28:46spot between
28:47these two
28:47to ultimately
28:48still protect
28:50the community
28:51and keep
28:51the community
28:52safe.
28:53I think I'll
28:53just read
28:54one more,
28:55all from
28:56Faith,
28:56still from
28:57Cebu Normal
28:58University.
28:59So we have
29:00very active
29:01participants,
29:02which is good
29:03because conversations
29:04like this
29:04should also
29:05involve
29:06the younger
29:07population.
29:08according to
29:09Faith said,
29:10criminal
29:11liability
29:11should be
29:12lowered to
29:12cover ages
29:1312 to
29:1417
29:14because young
29:16people at
29:16this stage
29:17are already
29:18conscious of
29:19their actions
29:20and possible
29:21consequences.
29:22We cannot
29:23simply exempt
29:24them from
29:24responsibility
29:25as victims
29:26also deserve
29:27justice.
29:28However,
29:29we must
29:30address the
29:31root causes
29:32of juvenile
29:33crime through
29:34mental health
29:35support,
29:35government
29:36livelihood
29:36programs
29:37and other
29:37interventions.
29:38I actually
29:38like the
29:39feedback
29:39coming from
29:40our younger
29:41viewers from
29:42the Cebu
29:42Normal
29:43Universities
29:43because while
29:44they are in
29:45favor or
29:46whether they
29:47are against,
29:48but while
29:49the other
29:50outlook
29:51differ,
29:52we should not.
29:54I think this is
29:55two and two.
29:56We should not.
29:58We should not.
29:58We are open
29:59to lowering it
30:01but all of them
30:02say the same
30:03thing.
30:03We must
30:04evaluate the
30:05cause.
30:06We also have
30:07to evaluate
30:08the kind of
30:08support that
30:09the community
30:10in our
30:11government
30:11institutions
30:12are providing
30:13for families
30:14not just
30:16of those
30:17allegedly committing
30:17crimes but also
30:19the victims
30:19of such
30:20crimes.
30:22So,
30:23before we
30:24close
30:25today's
30:26episode
30:27and just
30:28like the
30:29other episodes
30:30in Beyond
30:30the Headlines,
30:31even if
30:32the episode
30:34you can still
30:34continue to
30:35engage us
30:36in conversations
30:37through our
30:38comments section
30:40and welcome
30:41Ramudid to
30:41what's in you
30:42on questions
30:43or sa in you
30:45on mga
30:45comments
30:46and then
30:47even if
30:47the episode
30:49we would
30:50still
30:50respond
30:52to your
30:54questions
30:55as long as
30:56reasonable
30:57said
30:57or valid.
30:58But in a
30:59nutshell,
31:00I think
31:00whether
31:01the
31:01comments
31:01that I'm
31:03saying
31:03the child
31:04does not
31:05grow up
31:05in a
31:06vacuum.
31:06I think
31:07we have
31:07to
31:07recognize
31:08that.
31:09So,
31:09that's
31:09why
31:10there is
31:10a need
31:11for us
31:11to better
31:12understand
31:12the root
31:13cause
31:13that brought
31:14the child
31:15the offender
31:17into that
31:19situation.
31:20And there
31:21is also
31:22the school's
31:23responsibility
31:24aside from
31:26the parents,
31:27there's also
31:27the school's
31:28responsibility,
31:29the neighborhood's
31:30responsibility,
31:31the community
31:32and the society
31:33in general
31:34also shapes
31:35the behavior.
31:36That's why
31:36this is not
31:37just,
31:37it's not
31:39bad
31:43and the
31:44family.
31:44We have to
31:45look at it
31:46in a more
31:46holistic way.
31:48And then,
31:49the other one
31:50also that we need
31:51to have a more
31:52conversation moving
31:53forward is,
31:54is age an
31:55adequate measure
31:56of accountability?
31:57Because that's the
31:59reason why
31:59there are
31:59psychologists
32:00who support
32:0115 and
32:02below
32:02should be
32:03exempt
32:03because
32:04not all
32:05of them
32:05still
32:05understand
32:06right and
32:07wrong
32:08and the
32:08consequences.
32:09But as
32:10some of
32:11our
32:13viewers
32:13also said,
32:15maybe we
32:17also need
32:17to take a
32:18look more
32:18closely
32:19because
32:19some of
32:20this 15
32:20year and
32:21below
32:21may already
32:22have been
32:23acting with
32:24discernment.
32:25And that's
32:26where I
32:27also hope
32:27that more
32:28of our
32:30practitioners,
32:31especially on
32:32the field
32:32of psychology
32:33and psychiatry,
32:34we would be
32:35needing more
32:36of your
32:36inputs also
32:37at this time.
32:39And then,
32:39the other one
32:39which sometimes
32:40we forget,
32:41are we also
32:42protecting the
32:43victims?
32:44I would agree
32:44that sometimes
32:45in moments
32:46like this,
32:46focus on
32:50the offender.
32:52Whether
32:53rehabilitate
32:54or maybe
32:55it's time
32:55to punish
32:56and then
32:57mabiyaan na
32:57na ito
32:58sa hypod
32:58ang victims
32:59who are
32:59also
33:00hurting.
33:01Especially
33:02sa katong
33:02mga
33:03school shootings
33:04that happened
33:04in the past,
33:05nabiapod to
33:06sila yung
33:06mga pamilya
33:06o gnawad,
33:07ansan sila yung
33:07mga anak.
33:08So,
33:08how are we
33:09also
33:10addressing
33:11the
33:13emotion
33:14and the
33:15trauma
33:16and the
33:16devastation
33:17that victims,
33:18family of
33:19these victims
33:20have also
33:21experience?
33:23And then,
33:24katong
33:24gisurface na
33:25ko with
33:25the data,
33:26are our
33:27rehabilitation
33:27programs
33:28truly
33:29working?
33:30Kainatay,
33:30118
33:31facilities
33:32but only
33:3333%
33:34of them
33:34have actually
33:35intensive
33:36support
33:37center.
33:39So,
33:39can you
33:39imagine
33:40kung nasa
33:40sila yung
33:41success rate
33:41of 94%
33:42and then
33:4333%
33:44nila
33:44ang
33:44equipped,
33:45basing
33:46kung
33:46ito
33:46ang
33:46i-improve
33:47ang
33:47rehabilitation
33:48program
33:50in this
33:50institution,
33:51basing
33:52dili
33:53na
33:53kinahanglan,
33:54i-lower
33:55ang minimum
33:55age
33:56of
33:56criminal
33:57responsibility.
33:58Again,
33:59remember,
33:59sa katong
34:00declining
34:01rate,
34:01only 38%
34:03of them
34:03were committed
34:04by those
34:0515
34:05and below.
34:07So,
34:07there's even
34:09a decreasing
34:09trend
34:10and it's
34:10a smaller
34:11portion
34:11compared
34:12to the
34:12overall
34:13picture.
34:14So,
34:15what should
34:16the review
34:18constitute?
34:20Existing
34:20interventions,
34:21I've mentioned
34:22it already,
34:22and then
34:23receiving
34:24appropriate
34:24interventions
34:25for repeat
34:26offenders,
34:27as I've
34:27mentioned,
34:28and then
34:28whether
34:29victims
34:29and their
34:30families
34:30are also
34:31adequately
34:32supported
34:33because they
34:33also went
34:34through devastation
34:35and trauma.
34:36And then,
34:37the other
34:37thing also
34:38is how
34:39strict
34:40are we
34:40in terms
34:41of
34:41the
34:41law
34:42adults
34:44who are
34:45using
34:45minors
34:46as a
34:47front
34:47because
34:48that's
34:49also
34:49sadly
34:49the work
34:50around
34:51that's
34:51also
34:52happening.
34:53And then,
34:53whether
34:53rehabilitation
34:54facilities
34:55have sufficient
34:56funding,
34:57personnel,
34:58and
34:59capacity
35:00to provide
35:01the required
35:02and the
35:03necessary
35:03rehabilitation
35:04and
35:05intervention.
35:06Because
35:06whether
35:07there is
35:08a credible
35:09evidence
35:10that lowering
35:12the age,
35:13so we have
35:15to understand
35:15that should
35:16we decide
35:17to lower
35:17the age
35:18of criminal
35:19responsibility,
35:21the probability
35:22of doing
35:23so,
35:24will
35:24actually
35:25reduce
35:26crime.
35:27Because
35:28kung di
35:28ginato
35:29ma-address
35:29ang iyong
35:30support
35:30environment,
35:31basen
35:32this
35:32could
35:32just
35:32result
35:33to
35:34more
35:34children
35:35still
35:35in
35:36conflict
35:36with
35:36the
35:37law
35:37and
35:37we
35:37are
35:38not
35:38addressing
35:39the
35:39problem
35:40of
35:41family,
35:42community
35:43support,
35:44and the
35:44institutions
35:45that are
35:46supposed
35:46to be
35:46there
35:47also
35:47to make
35:48sure
35:48that there
35:49is a
35:49balance
35:49between
35:50accountability,
35:51protection,
35:52of the
35:52rights
35:52of a
35:53child,
35:53and
35:54safety
35:55of the
35:56communities
35:56and
35:56people
35:57around
35:58them.
35:59So,
36:00we must
36:01be tough
36:01on a
36:02crime,
36:03but equally
36:05serious
36:05about
36:06understanding
36:07why
36:07children
36:08become
36:09offenders.
36:10Behind
36:11every
36:11statistic
36:12is a
36:13human
36:13story,
36:14a family
36:15whose
36:15lives
36:16have been
36:16shattered,
36:17children
36:18whose
36:18futures
36:18have been
36:19changed
36:20forever.
36:21We need
36:22accountability,
36:23but we
36:24also
36:24need
36:25prevention.
36:26I'm
36:26DJ
36:27Moise,
36:27shout
36:27out to
36:28Coffee
36:28First for
36:29supporting
36:29conversations
36:30that
36:30matter.
36:31This
36:31is Beyond
36:32the
36:32Headlines,
36:33let's
36:33continue
36:33to look
36:34deeper
36:34and think
36:35better.
36:36Have a
36:36good
36:36afternoon.
36:42It
36:43starts
36:43with a
36:44fresh
36:44shot
36:44of
36:44espresso.
36:46Bold,
36:48rich,
36:49bold,
36:50just
36:50right.
36:52Then
36:53comes
36:53the
36:53milk,
36:54steamed
36:54smooth,
36:55creamy
36:56and
36:56balanced.
36:57The
36:58perfect
36:58latte
36:58is
36:59not
36:59brushed,
37:00it
37:00is
37:01crafted,
37:02one
37:02cup
37:03at
37:03a
37:03time.
37:04Your
37:04perfect
37:05latte
37:05is
37:05ready.
37:06Coffee
37:07first,
37:08then
37:09everything
37:09else.
37:10is
37:11good.
37:11good.
37:11It's
37:13good.
37:26It's
37:27good.