I’m always confused by what the government does and what happened today is causing my eyebrows to furrow. Inquirer.net reported that “The House of Representatives justice panel approved on Monday a bill lowering the age of criminal liability from 15 to nine years old.” Before a child even hits double digits, they can be punished for a crime.
In light of this, Sen. Risa Hontiveros had a lot to say. Her statement was about how the government should focus on big-time criminals and not kids. “Getting tough on children in conflict with the law while being lenient with big-time drug lords, smugglers and plunderers is not getting tough on crime, it is the promotion of a greater crime against our children and a case of not going after real menace to our country.” She also pointed out that these criminals “are the people who push the poor and vulnerable into crime. These people turn our children into victims by exploiting their poverty and their desperation.”
This really makes me wonder why they would pass that bill. Why are they going after children? Mind you, kids at that age are still in grade school. Sen. Hontiveros is right in saying that the government should switch the focus to the ones who cause the most harm.
Photo courtesy of Risa Hontiveros’ Instagram account
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