The age of criminality must be lowered to 12 years old

Senate Bill 2026, filed by Senate President Tito Sotto on Monday. The bill,
if passed, will lower the criminal age of liability to 13. Children from nine
years old up to 12 years of age who committed crimes would be exempt
from criminal liability, and will be put under appropriate intervention
programs.
The measure seeks to amend Sections 6, 20, 20-A, 20-B and 22 of RA 9344, as
amended so that a child below 18 years old but over 12 at the time of the
commission of the crime can be held criminally liable and subjected to the
appropriate proceedings, unless proven that he acted without discernment.

RA 9344 was amended in 2013 through RA 10630, which retains the minimum age at 15 but
allows children as young as 12 to be detained for serious crimes such as rape, murder, and
homicide, among others crimes.

"This is a giant leap backward. Based on its explanatory note, the Bill
argues that lowering the age of criminal responsibility will curb criminality
and stop adults from using children. This is a flawed argument. Already
disadvantaged children, exploited by adults should not be further
penalised," the UNICEF statement on Wednesday read.

"What the current law needs is not another arbitrary amendment but a
stronger implementation. Efforts from the judiciary and the executive
agencies like the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council, Departments of
Education and Social Welfare and Development are ongoing, noteworthy
and deserving of full support of Congress," UNICEF said.

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/09/28/Lower-age-criminal-responsibility-Rodrigo-Duterte-
UNICEF.html

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/09/26/1854844/tito-sotto-files-bill-
lowering-age-criminal-liability#OTg0HXrYcxDpip5k.99