MANILA, Philippines — Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of the Diocese of Kalookan said Thursday that shelters built for children in conflict with the law were “worse than cages for animals." “Believe me, our house for dogs live in far better conditions,” he was quoted in CBCP News on Thursday. “There is no way we can call ourselves a civilized society if we hold children in conflict with the law criminally liable,” the letter said. The House of Representatives passed House Bill 8858 on the third and final reading last month, lowering the age of criminal liability to 12, from the original proposed age of 9. The measures on lowering the age of criminal responsibility were introduced in the Congress months after President Rodrigo Duterte began speaking about his wish that the Juvenile Justice Act — which pegs the age of criminal responsibility at 15 — should be amended.

Source: Philippine Star February 15, 2019 11:15 UTC