Sotto: Amended juvenile bill to pass if certified urgent

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate may be able to swiftly pass the bill seeking to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility, especially if President Duterte certifies the measure as urgent.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III issued the statement as the committee on justice and human rights, chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon, wrapped up on Friday its public hearings on the proposals to lower the threshold age.

 Given the alarming increase in reports of minors committing heinous crimes, the bill would be better passed in the 17th Congress, which has only a few weeks left before it finally adjourns for the elections, he said.

 “By June, there is a new Congress that is being formed, there’ll be a new set of local officials, and the bill will be re-filed, subjected to hearings… so, many more crimes will be committed? It’s better if we do (approve) it now so that we can also allocate funds for Bahay Pag-asa,” Sotto told dzBB, referring to juvenile halfway homes.

 He and Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon have separately filed bills to lower the threshold age to 12 years old, from the present 15 provided under Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.

 Citing official figures, Sotto argued that since the law was passed, minors reported to be involved in crimes that ranged from petty to heinous (rape included) jumped from 10,000 to 12,000 a year.

 Gordon committed to submit the committee report to the plenary this week for floor deliberations and possible amendments before it can be calendared for approval on second reading and for third and final reading.

 Congress will go on recess on Feb. 8 to give way to the electoral campaign period. It will resume session on May 20 and adjourn sine die on June 7.

 Sotto said if the plenary debates would be prolonged, the bill might be passed when lawmakers return in May. But if deliberations will be swift and Duterte certifies the measure as urgent, the bill can be enacted into law by March.

 He stressed that the national government should take greater responsibility in administering to children in conflict with the law, including building halfway homes for them—something which he said the local government units failed to do. Out of the P400 million allotted in 2013 for constructing the houses, only P40 million have been disbursed. – With Helen Flores