BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — A renewed push to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility to "above nine years old" has been met with criticism that the policy would be ineffective and discriminatory. This, as Senate President Vicente Sotto III refiled a measure seeking to lower the age of criminal responsibility on Monday. Human rights group Karapatan said lowering MACR "to above nine years old" exacerbates the already dangerous situation of Filipino children. Lowering the age of criminal responsibility, Callueng added, "does not address the dire situation of children, nor does it attempt to solve the socio-economic conditions at the root of the problem." "Militarist policies such as the reinstatement of death penalty and the proposal to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility have been repeatedly proven to be ineffective in curbing criminality," Callueng said.

Source: Philippine Star July 03, 2019 07:02 UTC