PHILIPPINES TO LOWER CRIMINAL LIABILITY FROM 16 TO 9|菲掃毒再出招 擬修法下修犯罪刑責至9歲

Philippine police data between July 1 to August 28 last year showed that, more than 20,000 people below 18 have surrendered to authorities for possessing narcotics. President Duterte says the country is "producing a generation of criminals," and lawmakers are rushing to pass a bill which lowers the criminal liability of minors from 16 to as young as nine years old. Fourteen-year-old "Bryan" sat looking behind the window's grills of a government-run juvenile centre on the outskirts of Manila. Not wanting to reveal his real name, Bryan was arrested by the police during a drug raid Last September and was required to stay at the government's "House of Hope" for a year. Life was not bad because he was being taken care by social workers and was taught lessons like a regular child. They hold daily gatherings and are encouraged to share their stories without being judged by others. But that condition could change when a bill lowering the criminal liability of children is passed into law. Lawmakers are rushing to pass a bill which lowers the criminal liability of minors from 16 to as young as nine years old. That bill could affect Bryan and will give him a criminal record even if he desires to change. ==BRYAN, former drug courier== People make mistakes, especially children. Some children don't really know that getting involved in drugs is wrong. They think if their friends encourage them, it's okay. But to be labelled as criminals, I think that's really wrong. It hurts. For me, if I'm called a criminal, it really hurts. Social worker April Amistoso says imprisoning children is not a "quick fix solution", the authorities should instead focus on eliminating poverty and improving rehabilitation measures for children. However, Filipinos expressed mixed opinions regarding the proposed change in the law. ==DANIEL FALLOW, university student== Today, kids are being used in crime, but it should be the parents who gets charged for it, not the children, because their kids are their liability. ==ANDREA GITERING, street vendor== We really need this law because the adult criminals can use the children (to commit crime). Because if you use children, they are confident the children can get away with it since they won't be jailed. Along with the criminal liability bill, President Duterte has proposed a nationwide curfew for minors and the revival of capital punishment to deter Filipinos from getting involved in drugs. TRANSLATED BY：JESSICA OY