Sen. Leila M. de Lima's Handwritten Notes
Dispatch from Crame Number 54 and 55

Dispatch from Crame No. 55 - On proposals to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility

4/14/17

Like the death penalty, my opposition to the lowering of the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) is unflinching and unqualified.

Let's not punish our minor delinquents. Let's punish the adult criminals and syndicates who lure and exploit them and the parents who wantonly neglect them.

In keeping with human rights principles, children who run afoul of the law ought not to be treated as criminals, but as victims themselves.

The solution is not the lowering of the MACR, but the full effectuation of the language and spirit of the Pangilinan Law, a beautiful law. No excuses this time, the favorite being the paucity of resources esp. at the LGU level.

You and I, the government and our society bear the collective responsibility to ensure that the next generation be spared from a bleak future.

Let's start by ending the prevailing culture of bloodbath, lies and impunity. For the sake of our children and theirs.

Leila de Lima

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Dispatch from Crame No. 54 - On President Duterte's latest tirades against former President Aquino

4/4/17

Looking for scapegoats from his increasing woes - international condemnation for his murderous war on drugs, internal divisions and bickering and corruption issues hounding several of his agencies - seems to be Duterte's favorite pastime nowadays.

This President's latest rap threats versus the former President is just that. A convenient scapegoat. A diversionary ploy. An old, reprehensible tactic.

It's a mark of deviousness.

Leila de Lima