A brewing clash has emerged between Senator Robinhood Padilla and Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Representative Leila de Lima following Padilla’s proposal to amend the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.
Padilla seeks to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 17 to 10 years old, amending Republic Act No. 9344 — a law originally championed by Senator Kiko Pangilinan.
De Lima, a human rights lawyer and former senator, strongly criticized the bill, saying it unjustly criminalizes children.
“A child is not a criminal. A lost child should not be locked up but talked to, cared for, and given hope,” she stated.
“We do not fix a broken justice system by putting its weight on the smallest, weakest shoulders. We fix it by asking hard questions: Bakit may batang nalululong sa krimen? Sino ang tunay na nakikinabang sa mga pagkakasalang ito? Saan tayo nagkulang bilang lipunan?”
She warned that the measure could deepen the trauma of vulnerable children and their families rather than solve crime.
“This bill does not address crime. It punishes trauma. It does not protect society. It betrays children we have already failed.”
Human rights and child welfare groups have also expressed concern over the proposal.
As of writing, Sen. Padilla has yet to respond to De Lima’s criticisms.