Debates heat upon Padilla bill on young offenders

Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co called the proposed law a “harsh and biased approach to juvenile justice,” assailing the as-sumption that children commit murder because they are immune from imprisonment.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno likewise rejected the proposal, saying the belief that children escape accountability under current laws is “unfounded.”

Former senator-now party-list Rep.Leila de Lima echoed earlier these concerns, saying the bill represents a failure of compas-sion and a misunderstanding of the justice system’s true purpose.

However, Padilla defended his bill, arguing that while children are not inherently criminals, those who commit brutal offenses should no longer be treated as if they are incapable of accountability.

PAHRA slammed the measure as a “deeply misguided attempt to solve systemic problems through punishment,” warning that it targets children while ignoring poverty, neglect, and abuse that force them to commit crimes.

“We wonder what Senator Padilla feels while writing this bill from his mansion. We also wonder if it ever occurred to him that the real problem is the system, and that it cannot be solved by laws rooted in punishment,” said PAHRA secretary-general Edgar Cabalitan.

The group asserted that youth criminality is merely a symptom of deeper societal failures, driven by poverty, inflation, low wages, joblessness, and a deteriorating education system.

They also criticized what they saw as political grandstanding, pointing out the urgency to punish children while major proceedings like the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte are deliberately delayed.

“It’s outrageous how the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara is being dragged out, yet there’s such eagerness to punish chil-dren,” Cabalitan lamented.

Padilla filed the bill during his second batch of proposed legislation, seeking to rewrite the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.

Under Padilla’s proposed law, children aged 10 to below 18 who are charged with heinous crimes would no longer be exempt from criminal prosecution, a departure from the current law that shields all minors under 15.

The measure redefines heinous crimes to include parricide, murder, infanticide, kidnapping with homicide or rape, robbery with homicide or rape, destructive arson, carnapping involving fatal or sexual violence, and major drug offenses under the Compre-hensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Minors above 10 but below 18 accused of heinous crimes would be subject to regular criminal proceedings and penalties, aligning their treatment more closely to adult offenders.

The bill also revises the definition of “Bahay Pag-asa,” which will continue to provide short-term care for minors charged with non-heinous crimes, but will exclude those accused of heinous acts.

It also raises the age range for repeat non-heinous offenders from 12–15 to 15–18 years old, declaring such minors as neglected under the Child and Youth Welfare Code if prior intervention has failed.

These repeat offenders would be subjected to more intensive rehabilitation and could be committed to youth care facilities with parental consent or through court order if guardians are unavailable or uncooperative.

The bill retains the provision for automatic suspension of sentence for minors convicted of non-heinous offenses, allowing for rehabilitation without formal conviction.

The proposed law also a separability clause, ensuring the rest of the act remains effective even if parts are declared unconstitu-tional.

It also carries a repealing clause to nullify any laws or regulations inconsistent with the bill’s provisions.

Several individuals and groups pushed back strongly against Padilla’s proposal, warning that the measure would harm children rather than prevent crime.

“The amendment to the Juvenile Justice Act is our response to the worsening situation of minors involved in heinous crimes,” he said.

The senator emphasized that instilling responsibility at a young age is essential to shaping disciplined and law-abiding citizens.

“Your concern for the rights of the accused is valid, but when it comes to heinous crimes and rehabilitation, listen to me, I’ve seen the reality firsthand. I have personal experience and have witnessed what truly happens inside prisons. I came from the youth facility at Bilibid,” he said earlier on Monday.

Padilla maintained that the measure is not an attack on children, but a necessary legal adjustment in response to what he views as increasing abuse of legal protection by minors.

Despite his justification, critics quickly denounced the proposal, saying it criminalizes vulnerable children instead of confronting the societal conditions that push them into conflict with the law.

She stressed that no child willingly kills unless driven by circumstances beyond their control and accused Padilla of relying on un-proven narratives rather than evidence.

Co said meaningful reforms must target the root causes of crime, such as systemic poverty, broken families, and the failure of state protection, not children themselves.

De Lima argued that the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act already offers a clear and humane framework for handling children in conflict with the law.

The former senator also questioned the lack of support and investment in rehabilitation centers like Bahay Pag-Asa, which are intended to reintegrate children into society.

She warned that punishing traumatized youth under an already flawed justice system only adds to the harm they have experi-enced.

Akbayan Party-list Representative Chel Diokno likewise rejected the proposal, saying the belief that children escape accountabil-ity under current laws is unfounded.

He said Bahay Pag-Asa facilities already provide a form of structured rehabilitation and urged the government to enhance these systems with more funding and oversight.

Diokno called on lawmakers to address the real drivers of juvenile crime; poverty, domestic violence, and lack of access to edu-cation, through comprehensive social reform.

He challenged Congress to choose a path of care and hope rather than criminalization and fear.

On Tue, Jul 22, 2025 at 1:53 PM Ram Superable <ramchristiansuperable@gmail.com> wrote:

Debate heats up over bill lowering age of criminal responsibility

By Ram Superable

Senator Robinhood Padilla recently filed a measure during his second round of proposed legislation seeking to lower the mini-mum age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 10 years old, marking a significant overhaul of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.

Under the measure, children aged 10 to below 18 who are charged with heinous crimes would no longer be exempt from criminal prosecution, a departure from the current law that shields all minors under 15.

The bill defines heinous crimes to include parricide, murder, infanticide, kidnapping with homicide or rape, robbery with homicide or rape, destructive arson, carnapping involving fatal or sexual violence, and major drug offenses under the Comprehensive Dan-gerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Minors above 10 but below 18 accused of heinous crimes would be subject to regular criminal proceedings and penalties, aligning their treatment more closely with adult offenders.

The bill also revises the definition of “Bahay Pag-asa,” which will continue to provide short-term care for minors charged with non-heinous crimes, but will exclude those accused of heinous acts.

It also raises the age range for repeat non-heinous offenders from 12–15 to 15–18 years old, declaring such minors as neglected under the Child and Youth Welfare Code if prior intervention has failed.

These repeat offenders would be subjected to more intensive rehabilitation and could be committed to youth care facilities with parental consent or through court order if guardians are unavailable or uncooperative.

The bill retains the provision for automatic suspension of sentence for minors convicted of non-heinous offenses, allowing for rehabilitation without formal conviction.

The proposed law includes a separability clause, ensuring the rest of the act remains effective even if parts are declared unconsti-tutional.

It also carries a repealing clause to nullify any laws or regulations inconsistent with the bill’s provisions.

Several individuals and groups pushed back strongly against Padilla’s proposal, warning that the measure would harm children rather than prevent crime.

Padilla defended the bill, arguing that while children are not inherently criminals, those who commit especially brutal offenses should no longer be treated as if they are incapable of accountability.

“The amendment to the Juvenile Justice Act is our response to the worsening situation of minors involved in heinous crimes,” he said on Tuesday.

The senator emphasized that instilling responsibility at a young age is essential to shaping disciplined and law-abiding citizens.

“Your concern for the rights of the accused is valid, but when it comes to heinous crimes and rehabilitation, listen to me, I’ve seen the reality firsthand. I have personal experience and have witnessed what truly happens inside prisons. I came from the youth facility at Bilibid,” he said earlier on Monday.

Padilla maintained that the measure is not an attack on children but a necessary legal adjustment in response to what he views as increasing abuse of legal protection by minors.

Despite his justification, critics quickly denounced the proposal, saying it criminalizes vulnerable children instead of confronting the societal conditions that push them into conflict with the law.

Kabataan Party-list Representative Renee Co called the bill a harsh and biased approach to juvenile justice, questioning the as-sumption that children commit murder because they are immune from imprisonment.

She stressed that no child willingly kills unless driven by circumstances beyond their control and accused Padilla of relying on un-proven narratives rather than evidence.

Co said meaningful reforms must target the root causes of crime, such as systemic poverty, broken families, and the failure of state protection, not children themselves.

ML Party-list Representative Leila de Lima echoed these concerns, saying the bill represents a failure of compassion and a mis-understanding of the justice system’s purpose.

De Lima argued that the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act already offers a clear and humane framework for handling children in conflict with the law.

The former senator also questioned the lack of support and investment in rehabilitation centers like Bahay Pag-Asa, which are intended to reintegrate children into society.

She warned that punishing traumatized youth under an already flawed justice system only adds to the harm they have experi-enced.

Diokno said Bahay Pag-Asa facilities already provide a form of structured rehabilitation and urged the government to enhance these systems with more funding and oversight.

Diokno called on lawmakers to address the real drivers of juvenile crime; poverty, domestic violence, and lack of access to edu-cation, through comprehensive social reform.

He challenged Congress to choose a path of care and hope rather than criminalization and fear.

— Ram Superable