“The 15 year old minimum age of criminal liability will not be changed. The new bill also increases the jail time for negligent parents, guardians and crime syndicates who induce, encourage or use children to commit crimes. Deputy Speaker Pia Cayetano said the new bill addressed all concerns of those in favor and opposed to reducing the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to nine years old. If the parents/guardians cannot discipline the children, this bill allows the state to take over that responsibility as part of government intervention. That way, we remove the stigma of being a criminal from being carried by the children,” Cayetano said.

Source: Manila Times May 23, 2017 13:07 UTC