The Philippine National Police (PNP) has reiterated its push to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 12 years old, pointing to a rise in offenses committed by minors following a fatal school shooting in Tacloban City.
According to PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Allen Rae Co, law enforcement statistics indicate a growing number of crimes involving children in conflict with the law, which justifies a review and modification of the current legislation.
“Kaya sa amin ay titignan din naman kung may (act of) discernment. Hindi mo naman arbitrarily na kasama na kaagad sila. Titignan pa rin naman kung alam naman nila ang kanilang ginagawa,” Co said during a press briefing.
This renewed advocacy follows a violent attack at San Jose National High School that resulted in three fatalities. Two teenage suspects, aged 14 and 15, were subsequently taken into police custody.
As the investigation progresses, authorities revealed that the 14-year-old suspect, referred to by the pseudonym “Nash,” successfully reloaded his weapon amid the assault.
Furthermore, investigators discovered that both minors gained entry to the campus roughly two hours before the incident, hinting at potential premeditation.
While first responders noted an initial lack of visible remorse from the teenagers, law enforcement officials stated they are not yet drawing final conclusions regarding the suspects’ psychological state or behavioral patterns.
The PNP has long supported modifying the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, emphasizing that crucial legal protections—such as determining whether a minor acted with full discernment—would remain an integral part of the judicial process.