FALSE: Minor suspects not held accountable under juvenile law

 Joyce Anne  Mendoza

With the current proposal of Senator Padilla to lower the minimum age for criminal liability, people have formed misconceptions around the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 (RA 9344). Many of the comments suggest that children are not held accountable because of the said law. 

 “Age should not be a shield for committing serious crimes.“ reads a Facebook comment. Another comment says “Let’s be real, some minors use their age as a shield. They know the law protects them, so they take advantage of it.’’

The concerns regarding the Juvenile Law resurfaced due to the MMK episode about the 2021 murder of the Maguad siblings where a 17-year-old adopted girl stabbed an 18-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy to death. 

Padilla further claimed that children in the present mature faster and have more understanding due to internet exposure. 

CLAIM: Philippine Juvenile Justice law aims to remove accountability from children who committed serious crimes. 

RATING: FALSE 

CONCLUSION: Children 15 years old and below are still held accountable under the current law. It is mandated that juvenile suspects should be subjected to intervention programs depending on the degree and frequency of the offense before being transferred to an adult correctional facility after turning 18.

Furthermore, studies show brain development continues into a person’s mid-20s, contrary to the claim that present children mature faster.