Celebrities react to bill on lowering age of criminal liability

MANILA, Philippines — Several celebrities voiced out their concerns and reactions on social media after the House justice committee approved on Monday a bill lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 15 years old to nine. 

Among those who expressed dismay is Kapamilya actress Anne Curtis who shared a post from Unicef Philippines and said she’s sad because children who get in trouble still have the chance to change. 

Nakakalungkot isipan na ibaba nila ang criminal responsibility to the age of 9. At that age, they are still very much children. They still have a chance to change their ways if they happen to cause or get into any trouble instead of being sent to jail & sentenced as an adult. ???? https://t.co/H9to9QHyjD

— Anne Curtis-Smith (@annecurtissmith) January 22, 2019

“Nakakalungkot isipan na ibaba nila ang criminal responsibility to the age of 9. At that age, they are still very much children. They still have a chance to change their ways if they happen to cause or get into any trouble instead of being sent to jail & sentenced as an adult,” the “It’s Showtime” host said.  

Another “It’s Showtime” host and Rocksteddy frontman Teddy Corpuz wrote on his Twitter account, “Paano daw yung mga 9years old na mga bata na ginagamit nang mga sindikato para gumawa nang krimen? Eh Di hulihin nyo yung SINDIKATO!”

Paano daw yung mga 9years old na mga bata ginagamit nang mga sindikato para gumawa nang krimen?
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Eh Di hulihin nyo yung SINDIKATO!

— teddy corpuz (@teddspotting) January 22, 2019

Actress Agot Isidro, meanwhile, tweeted lyrics of the APO Hiking Society hit song “Batang-bata Ka Pa” with the hashtag "Children Not Criminals." 

“Hayaan mong mong maglaro ang bata sa araw
Kapag umulan nama'y nagtatampisaw
Mahirap man o may kaya
Maputi, kayumanggi
At kahit ano mang uri ka pa
Sa 'yo ang mundo pag bata ka.”

Apparently, not in the Philippines. ????#ChildrenNOTCriminals

— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) January 22, 2019

“Hayaan mong mong maglaro ang bata sa araw, Kapag umulan nama'y nagtatampisaw, Mahirap man o may kaya, Maputi, kayumanggi, At kahit ano mang uri ka pa, Sa 'yo ang mundo pag bata ka ... Apparently, not in the Philippines,” Agot wrote. 

Actor and spoken word artist Juan Miguel Severo couldn’t hide his emotions and tweeted, “GIGIL NA GIGIL AKO.” He wondered how the Philippines can entrust its children to a corrupt system if adults who committed crimes are free to walk the streets. 

“Paano mo ipagkakatiwala sa ganito ka-corrupt na hudikatura at kapulisan ang kinabukasan ng mga anak mo? Sorry, Pepe. 'Yung pag-asa ng bayan ikukulong na lang namin habang 'yung mga nang-abuso ay hahayaan namin sa labas dahil matanda na't nakakaawa naman,” Juan said.
 
Host and actor Jun Sabayton said children as young as nine may be exploited by corrupt government officials. 

“Yung 9  years na bata, ay magiging gatasan yan ng mapagsamantalang mga nag tatratrabaho sa gobyerno. Mga Pulitiko,Pulis, DSWD, Public Works and Highways, NHA etc. Lalo na ng mga pulis, taniman lang yan tapos papatubos na sa malaking halaga sa mga magulang,” Jun wrote on Twitter. 

Musician Ebe Dancel asked his followers what they were doing when they were nine years old. 

“Based on answers that i got, i was exactly like you when i was 9. I was free, i was playing outdoors, i was looking forward to life. Now we have people who think kids aged 9 can be jailed. Makes me sad. Makes me angry,” Ebe wrote on his Twitter. 

For her part, Kapamilya host Bianca Gonzalez retweeted a post by Sports 5 reporter Carlo Pamintuan that said, “Jailing nine-year-olds will not solve anything. We need to address the real issue here. Younger people are forced to commit crime because of poverty. Pupunuin natin ng bata ang mga kulungan for petty theft while those who steal millions roam free.”