Press Release
January 22, 2019

Lacson to Support Lowering Age of Criminal Liability, on Three Conditions

More at: https://pinglacson.net/2019/01/22/lacson-to-support-lowering-age-of-criminal-liability-on-three-conditions/

If the offender acted with discernment, if sentencing is suspended until the offender reaches the age of majority, and there are enough reformative facilities.

These are the three conditions for Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson to support lowering the age of criminal liability to deter youths from getting involved in heinous crimes.

But Lacson, who served as Philippine National Police chief from 1999 to 2001, said the age of nine is "too young" for criminal liability.

In a post on his Twitter account, Lacson said he would "support lowering the age of criminal liability to a certain level," provided that:

* The youth offender is proven to have acted with discernment when he or she committed the crime, especially serious ones;

* Sentencing is suspended until the offender reaches the age of majority; and

* There are enough and properly supervised reformative facilities to rehabilitate the youth offenders.

Also, Lacson said his support for the lowering of the age of criminal liability "to a certain level" will depend on "science-based testimonies of experts in the field of child psychology."

Earlier this week, the House of Representatives approved an amendment to the Juvenile Justice Act, lowering the age of criminal liability to nine from 15. The Senate is to tackle a counterpart measure.

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