CHAPTER I: The Problem and its Background

Introduction: Philippines have reported a lot of crime incidents nowadays. Crimes that greatly
affect the general welfare of Filipino citizens and also the future of Filipino youths. We often
heard a lot of crime news on television, radios, and even news papers. It is alarming how these
incidents became wide and vast in numbers. Crimes are activities of man that are being noticed
in the surroundings. Some people committed crimes because of financial problems either they
want to support their family or avail themselves of the other benefits received in doing such act.
On the other hand, there are also people who made crimes because they have been trained to do
such act and availed themselves of age privileges in criminal law. It is sad to think that these
people are youths who are not responsible in any crime penalties because their age are not
covered in juvenile crime laws.These youths are being trained by their boss to commit crime for
the purpose of earning money. We often see this youths in squatter areas who belongs to lowest
socio economic status.

Republic Act No. 9344 or the “Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act” defines the Juvenile Justice and
Welfare System as a system dealing with children at risk and children in conflict with the law,
which provides child-appropriate proceedings, including programs and services for prevention,
diversion, rehabilitation, reintegration and aftercare to ensure their normal growth and
development. Instead of using the word “juvenile”, Philippine laws made use of the word
“child”. As defined in R.A. No. 9344, “Child” is a person under the age of eighteen (18) years.
While “Child at Risk” refers to a child who is vulnerable to and at the risk of committing
criminal offences because of personal, family and social circumstances. Some of the examples
mentioned in the law are: being abandoned or neglected, and living in a community with a high
level of criminality or drug abuse. “Child in Conflict with the Law” or CICL on the other hand
refers to a child who is alleged as, accused of, or adjudged as, having committed an offence
under Philippine laws. A child can commit an act or omission whether punishable under special
laws or the amended Revised Penal Code which is referred to as an “Offence”.

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According to Rappler.com (2019), The House committee on justice approved the bill that would
lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 15 years old to 9 years old. House justice
panel chairperson and Oriental Mindoro 1st District Representative Salvador Leachon said the
bill primarily seeks to protect children from being used by syndicates to commit crimes.

Juvenile crime is one of the nation's serious problems. Concern about it is widely shared by
federal, state, and local government officials and by the public. The purpose of this research is to
get the reactions and stands of the youth in this country regarding the proposed bill which they
are greatly affected. This research is helpful and beneficial to the public especially the
lawmakers who make laws and it will serve it as their basis in making laws that are truly studied
by researchers.

Statement of the Problem: ​This research generally aimed to know the different reactions of
students in University of the East- Manila 1st year major in accountancy on lowering the
minimum age of criminal responsibility. Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What is the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of:

a. Age

b. Gender

c. Ages of brother or sister

2. What are the reactions of the respondents on the issues regarding lowering the minimum
age of criminal responsibility?

3. What are the acts that juvenile offenders should be jailed?

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Conceptual Framework

Figure 1: Conceptual Framework

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Figure 1 elaborates the elements present in our research. It contains inputs which are essential
and useful in making our research. It also contains processes that we used in order to attain the
output in our research.

Significance of the Study: ​This study is relevant and will be beneficial to the following:

Juveniles: This research will be beneficial to juvenile or persons age below 18 as they may use
this research as a basis for their stands as a youth and know how the proposed bill greatly affect
the reactions of the youth. It will also gives them knowledge what is the proposed bill all about.
It also gives them guide on weighing the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed bill.

Lawmakers: This research will be beneficial to lawmakers who needs basis for their proposed
laws which gives them guide on what reactions does the youth will feel if they will lower the
minimum age of criminal responsibility. It will give them knowledge about the stands of the
youth on some of related issues that will occur if the bill will take effect in the public.

Parents​: This research will be beneficial to the parents especially to those who have minor aged
children because it gives them informations that are truly helpful in understanding the proposed
bill about lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility. It will also enlighten their mind
how the proposed bill greatly affect the minors and children.

Future researchers: For the researchers that will have similar or related studies hereafter, this
study can serve as a guide and source of reliable information that can be used for future research.
It will also give them more knowledge and ideas about the proposed bill which they can use in
their future studies.

Scope and Delimitation

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This study is will be only limited. It will tackle the ​House Bill (HB) 8858 and the R.A. no. 9344.
Factors affecting the children to do such crime. Different reactions from different organizations.
Reactions from the citizens of College of Business Administration, 1st year Bachelor of Science
in Accountancy students in University of the East-Manila. Nothing more, nothing less.

Definition of Terms

Aberrations- a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is
unwelcome.

Attitudinal- relating to, based on, or expressive of personal attitudes or feelings attitudinal
judgment.

CICL- Children In Conflict with the Law.

Delinquency- minor crime, especially that committed by young people.

Endocrine Disorders- The ​endocrine system is a network of glands that produce and release
hormones that help control many important body functions, including the body's ability to
change calories into energy that powers cells and organs.

Exuberance- the quality of being full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness; ebullience.

Inadequate- lacking the quality or quantity required; insufficient for a purpose.

Juvenile- is a child or young person who is not yet old enough to be regarded as an adult.

Lethargy- a lack of energy and enthusiasm.

MACR- Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility

Monotony- lack of variety and interest; tedious repetition and routine

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Psychoneuroses- a neurosis based on emotional conflict in which an impulse that has been
blocked seeks expression in a disguised response or symptom.

Psychoses- a severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact
is lost with external reality.

Truancy- the action of staying away from school without good reason; absenteeism.

CHAPTER II: Review of Related Literature

Local Studies

Carlota (1983) stated in his research entitled “Legal and Psychological Perspectives on
Philippine Juvenile Delinquency” that they investigated the problem of juvenile delinquency in
the Metro Manila setting from the legal and psychological viewpoints. The data was gathered
through interviews of participant judges, children in conflict with the law and personnel of
rehabilitation centres. Forty seven male and 31 female children in conflict with the law were
included in the study. Included in the findings is the fact that judges are not automatically
informed of the child’s age and they learn of the age only upon personally asking the child. After
conducting their research they recommended that there should be more systematic method of
record keeping with respect to court records of children in conflict with the law. Next
recommendation, there should be a creation of a programme that incorporates systematic
attempts to bring about personality and attitudinal changes, specifically, in moral standards;
emotional stability and self-control, tolerance for frustration, and in self-concept. Then, they
recommend that there should be researchers conducting researches that will evaluate the
effectiveness of treatment programmes in rehabilitation centres. Lastly, there should be an
additional researches on the “prevention” of juvenile delinquency.

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On the other hand, the Department of Sociology of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines
(PUP, 1993), conducted a descriptive study of the status and situation of children in conflict with
the law. They used the case study method on The Situation of Youthful Offenders in the
Philippines and covered nine children nationwide. According to the study, the most common
feature among the nine children is their poor economic conditions under which they came into
conflict with the law. Aside from these conditions, the criminal justice system, which the
children underwent, also served as a challenge to these children. The study observed some
differences between the actual experiences of children and the claims of the government
institutions. Not one of the nine children was brought by the police to medical personnel for
physical examination, or to a psychologist for mental examination. The police were unaware that
special treatment should be accorded to minors. They do not even know that the DSWD should
be notified. Some of the children were not formally charged with vagrancy by the arresting
police officers. The children were kept in jails for a number of days before they were released or
transferred to a Lingap Center for street children. Some of the children were physically abused
by police officers even before the children reached police headquarters and the prosecutor
overlooked this. Court trial takes a long time. The detention centre does not function as a
rehabilitation centre, but a place for survival and a training ground for criminality. Services and
Programmes in youth rehabilitation centres, whether regional or local, are inadequate and the
intervention of DSWD, while the children are going through the juvenile justice system, is also
inadequate. The children’s cases only come to the attention of the DSWD after they have been in
jail for a number of days, or even weeks and months.

Bureau of Child and Youth Welfare, DSWD and the National Police Commission Crime
Prevention and Coordination Service (1993) also agreed on Carlota that poverty is one of the
causes of juvenile delinquency. According to their survey entitled “Survey on Youth Offenders
at Camp Sampaguita and Correctional Institute for Women”, they made conclusions that the law
enforcers had no orientation on how to handle cases of children at the time the children
committed the offence. The physical environment and accommodation at the city, municipal,

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provincial jail, Camp Sampaguita or Correctional Institute for Women do not comply with the
standards established by the United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of
Liberty, Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice and the UN CRC.
There is no concrete rehabilitation programme for the children while in confinement.

According Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID, 1996) National Project
on Street Children and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF, 1996) they sponsored a
three-year project that aims to improve the psychological rehabilitation and therapeutic
interventions for the sexually abused, the substance abusers, and those in conflict with the law.
The publication of the project, Listen To Their Inner Voice: Street Children Speak Through
Their Drawings and Metaphors (1996), was written by the overall coordinator, Dr. Maria
Lourdes A. Carandang. The project used a clinical, holistic and in-depth approach as its research
design. Twenty three CICL were interviewed. Based on their study, the children in conflict with
the law and substance abusers view the world as ‘hopeful.’ Children in conflict with the law also
view themselves (with pride) in being ‘helpful’ to others. The further trauma caused by police
harassment and brutality among children in conflict with the law must be stopped. Children in
conflict with the law, like substance abusers, need to belong to a peer group with a strong parent
figure as well. This fills a deep longing for love and intimacy which they seem to have found in
their peers as parent surrogates. It is also important to develop and strengthen this peer support
which should be directed toward helping them get away from the stigma of being bad and being
doomed to be bad. The need to set limits and disciplinary approaches for substance abusers and
children in conflict with the law. On the other hand, substance abusers and children in conflict
with the law need guidance to erase their ‘bad’ label. This can be done through small groups
(peer power) discussions. Here they discuss and share this issue in terms of right and wrong, and
later directed to plan and work together on a project that can make them proud of themselves.
They need to experience a firm, but not cruel or insulting, disciplinary approach and consistent
limit-setting. The substance abusers and children in conflict with the law need to form
meaningful and constructive relationships with peers and, as mentioned previously, to have a

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firm and consistent, but not harsh and insulting, disciplinary program. The sexually abused and
children in conflict with the law need to experience positive and nurturing mother figures, in
terms of the therapeutic relationship. Caregivers must be willing and able to provide these
‘surrogate parent figures’ effectively. In this aspect, transference and countertransference issues
must be effectively handled. It is urgent that we focus on the continuing moral deterioration of
children in conflict with the law. This gradual erosion or inadequate development of conscience
can be healed by fostering a trusting relationship with them and involving their peer group in the
redirection of behaviour. Setting firm and consistent limits of right and wrong, without violating
their dignity is necessary. It is also important that moral differences in dealing with guilt among
three groups be the basis of directions in their moral development.

From the study of Lamberte (1996), he conducted a baseline study for the programme, “Street
Education: An Alternative Response to Street Children,” which was being implemented by the
Inter-City Committee on Street Education (ICCSE). The study entitled, Today’s Metro Manila
Street Children aimed to provide benchmark information about the life situations of street
children in Metro Manila, specifically, Manila, Pasay, Quezon and Mandaluyong. The study
covered a total of 700 sample street children and made use of face-to-face structured interviews.
Convenient sampling techniques were utilised in the selection of subjects. According to the
study, the main deviant behaviours street children engage in are gambling, use of prohibited
drugs, sexual behaviours and commission of illegal acts. The data also showed that 52.21 per
cent had been previously arrested by the police, 70.27 per cent in connection with “bagansiya” or
police raids. Other reasons for arrest include the following: being a “suspect” in a crime; use of
prohibited drugs; snatching, gambling, vagrancy, begging and pedicab driving without a license.
The study also revealed that upon arrest, 30.46 percent of the children were punished by “takal,”
ie, being beaten with a piece of wood (2” x 2”); 26.46 per cent were asked to clean the precinct;
5.85 percent were asked to give a massage to the police; and 2.78 percent were asked to give
money to the police. No punishment was given to the rest of the children covered by the study.

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Moreover, the Philippine Action for Youth Offender (PAYO, 1996) also undertook a
nation-wide survey of children in conflict with the law entitled Youth in Detention: Issues and
Challenges, A Nationwide Survey. The objective of the survey was to document the situation of
children in detention. Data were obtained through actual interviews of children inside the city
jails in key cities nationwide. Two hundred thirty two children nationwide were interviewed. The
socio-demographic characteristics of the children were described in the survey and the
implementation of existing laws on children in conflict with the law was also analysed. The
survey concluded that the condition in detention violates the fundamental principle of the
promotion of the well-being of children and that they are trapped in institutions that are very
punitive in character.

The Adhikain Para sa Karapatang Pambata (AKAP, 2011), in partnership with the UNICEF,
conducted a study on the situation of children in conflict with the law entitled Situation Analysis
on Children in Conflict with the Law and the Juvenile Justice System. The study was conducted
through review of data covering 1993 to 1997 on various aspects of Juvenile Justice System.
Information was derived from existing studies, surveys and reports prepared by concerned
groups concerned with CICL. Materials were supplemented by actual interview and responses to
questionnaires sent to selected institutional respondents. Dialogues with judges and designated
courts for children’s cases were conducted from April to June 1997.

According to Social Weather Station Survey (SWS, 2019), majority of filipinos want 15 as
minimum age of criminal liability. The survey was conducted in Metro Manila in July and in the
regions in December 2018. It shows that 15 years old is the median of minimum age of criminal
responsibility that people who support jailing of minors agree with. The results of the survey
were released on Tuesday, January 29. SWS president Mahar Mahangas emphasized that
respondents were asked about their opinion on jailing children depending on specific crimes,
including raping, killing, acting as drug courier, snatching cellphones, and stealing food. The
survey results showed public perception is divided when it comes to jailing minors involved in

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illegal drugs trade, with 49% agreeing that those who acted as drug couriers should be jailed,
35% disagree, and 4% undecided.

Foreign Studies

According to (Danish Ministry of Justice, 2014, 2016) youth crime has decreased considerably in
recent years. This development is seen across a variety of settings, including the US, the UK, and
the Scandinavian countries . At the same time, many western countries have ongoing political
discussions about the ”right” age-limits in the criminal justice system, and there are examples of
both movements towards raising the age boundaries (e.g. across US states ) and advocacies
towards lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility (e.g. in Denmark). Aizer and
Doyle (2015) find detrimental effects on recidivism and education, whereas Hjalmarsson (2009)
finds the opposite. Previous studies on age boundaries in the youth justice system have largely
focused on the age at which juvenile offenders transfer to the adult justice system and results are
mixed. There are both examples of studies finding no effects of the majority age (e.g.
Hjalmarsson 2009b; Loeffler and Chalfin 2017; Loeffler and Grundwald 2015) and studies
documenting general deterrent effects (Hansen and Waddell 2014; Lee and McCrary 2017;
Levitt 1998).

Aizer and Doyle (2015) stated on their book “Juvenile Incarceration, Human Capital and Future
Crime: Evidence from Randomly-Assigned Judges” that Over 130,000 juveniles are detained in
the United States each year with 70,000 in detention on any given day, yet little is known about
whether such a penalty deters future crime or interrupts social and human capital formation in a
way that increases the likelihood of later criminal behavior. Their article uses the imprisonment
tendency of randomly assigned judges as an instrumental variable to estimate causal effects of
juvenile imprisonment on high school completion and adult recidivism. Estimates based on over
35,000 juvenile offenders over a 10-year period from a large urban county in the United States
suggest that juvenile imprisonment results in substantially lower high school completion rates

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and higher adult imprisonment rates, including for violent crimes. In an attempt to understand the
large effects, they found that imprisonment for this population could be very disruptive, greatly
reducing the likelihood of ever returning to school and, for those who do return, significantly
increasing the likelihood of being classified as having an emotional or behavioral disorder.

On the other hand, Hjalmarsson (2009) on his book “Juvenile Jails: A Path to the Straight and
Narrow or to Hardened Criminality?”, he stated that Juvenile justice systems throughout the
United States have become increasingly punitive since the 1970s. Most states have passed
legislation making it easier to transfer juveniles to the criminal courts. Supporters of this “get
tough” movement argue, in part, that juvenile courts are ineffective in deterring young offenders.
This claim, however, is based primarily on poorly designed evaluations that do not account for
the nonrandom nature of sentencing. This paper demonstrates how the institutional features of
the justice system can be exploited to identify causality when true random assignment is not
feasible. In particular, I capitalize on discontinuities in punishment that arise in Washington
State’s juvenile sentencing guidelines to identify the effect of incarceration on the postrelease
criminal behavior of juveniles. The results indicate that incarcerated individuals have lower
propensities to be reconvicted of a crime. This deterrent effect is also observed for older,
criminally experienced, and/or violent youths.

Loeffler and Chalfin (2017), argued that there are no effects of raising the age of majority on his
research entitled “Estimating the Crime Effects of Raising the Age of Majority”. The results of
recent empirical research on their research have shown that juveniles do not achieve complete
psychosocial maturity until post adolescence and that processing juveniles as adults in the
criminal justice system can be associated with elevated rates of criminal recidivism. In response
to these as well as other concerns, several states have recently raised their legal ages of majority
in the hopes of reducing juvenile offending rates. Connecticut enacted one such law change
when it raised its age of majority from 16 to 17 in 2010 and then from 17 to 18 in 2012 for all
but the most serious offenses. The effect of Connecticut's policy change on juvenile crime is
examined in this study. To discern between changes in juvenile offending and changes in the

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propensity of police to arrest youthful offenders in the aftermath of a law change, we use two
methodological approaches. Synthetic control methods are used to generate triple-differences
estimates of the effect of Connecticut's policy change on juvenile arrests and overall crime rates
by using a weighted average of other U.S. states as a natural comparison group. Next, by
analyzing National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) data for a subset of Connecticut's
local jurisdictions, they examine changes in age-specific juvenile arrests and changes in
age-specific juvenile offending. The resulting evidence suggests that no discernable change in
juvenile offending occurred. In addition, evidence exists that in some Connecticut jurisdictions,
officer, rather than juvenile, behavior was impacted by this law change.

Hansen and Waddell (2014) elaborated the effect of adult prosecution of youth on juvenile crime
on their research entitled “Walk Like a Man: Do Juvenile Offenders Respond to Being Tried as
Adults?”. The summary of their research is that at age 15 there are significant increase in
probability of transfer to adult court. No clear sorting occuring beginning at age 15. Potential
decrease in recurrent juvenile crime. Heterogeneity results suggest driven by a decline in
property related crimes. They also concluded that evidence that adult prosecution may reduce
some youth crime in the future are additional years results more states to increase power,
subsequent years from adult criminal records, and employment outcomes. Benefits of lower
crime should be weighed against costs.

CHAPTER III: Methodology

Research Design: This study will use quantitative and descriptive survey research. Quantitative
Research is a structured way of collecting and analyzing data obtained from different sources.
Descriptive survey research, on the other hand, is a study designed to depict the characteristics of
the participants. (DeFranzo, 2011)
Population of the Study​: Only the students in the University of the East - Manila 1st year major
in accountancy who have learned or heared the proposed bill about lowering the minimum age of

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criminal responsibility. Every answers of the respondent will be treated with respect and
confidentiality.

Research Locale: This study will be conducted in University of the East- Manila Campus
located at 2219 C.M. Recto Ave., Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines, on the heart of University Belt
area. This study was particularly conducted on the SFC Building under the College of Business
Administration.

Research Instrument: The main instrument used in mixed method researches consist of
close-ended Likert Scale survey questionnaire. These different ways of gathering data can
provide each other and hence boost the validity and dependability of the data.

Sample and Sampling Technique: This research will be utilizing both convenience and
purposive sampling method. Convenience and purposive sampling method are both
non-probability sampling technique. Convenience Sampling is when the researchers engages
those participants whom are easiest to include. On the other hand, in Purposive Sampling, the
researcher decides who to include in the research.

Data Gathering Procedure: The researchers will administer the survey questionnaires to the
selected respondents the students in the major in accountancy course and will be collected
afterwards. The data gathered will be analyzed and will be filtered down to those valid
respondents for the interview.

CHAPTER IV: Presentation, Analysis, and Interpretation of Data

This chapter deals with the presentation, analysis, and interpretation of the data gathered to
answer the problems raised in the investigation.

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The data obtained for this research were based on the pertinent information gathered from the
questionnaires that were answered by students in University of the East - Manila 1st Year Major
in Accountancy

Objective 1​: ​To identify the demographic profile and characteristics of the respondents

TABLE 1.1
AGE OF RESPONDENTS
21 1
20 1
19 15
18 3
TOTAL 20
Table 1.1 Age of Respondents

The table shows that 1 out of 20 respondents or 5% of the total respondents is 21 years old same
as 20 years old and 15 out of 20 respondents or equivalent to 75% of the total respondents is 19
years old, and 3 out of 20 respondents or equivalent to 20% is 18 yrs old.

TABLE 1.2
GENDER OF RESPONDENTS
Male 5
Female 15
TOTAL 20
Table 1.2 Gender of Respondents

Table shows that 11 out of 48 respondents or equivalent to 23% of the total respondents are
male while 37 out of 48 respondents or equivalent to 77% of the total respondents are female.

Objective 2: To know the reactions of the respondents on the issue regarding lowering the
minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR)

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 TABLE 2.1
In Favor of lowering the MACR
Verbal Interpretation Respondents Frequency
Strongly Agree (SA) 2 10%
Agree (A) 5 25%
Neutral (N) 3 15%
Disagree (D) 6 30%
Strongly Disagree (SD) 4 20%
TOTAL 20 100%
Table 2.1 Respondents who are in favor of lowering the MACR

Table 2.1 is about favoring in lowering the MACR from 15 yrs old to 12 yrs. 2 out of 20 or 10%
are SA, 5 out of 20 or 25% are A, 3 out of 20 or 15% are N, 6 out of 20 or 30% are D, and 4 out
0f 20 or 20% are SD, to the MACR.

TABLE 2.2
Not criminally liable
Verbal Interpretation Respondents Frequency
Strongly Agree (SA) 3 15%
Agree (A) 7 35%
Neutral (N) 8 40%
Disagree (D) 2 10%
Strongly Disagree (SD) 1 5%
TOTAL 20 100%
Table 2.2 shows the different response, that children 12 yrs old and below are not criminally
liable because they are not mentally matured yet. 3 out of 20 respondents or 15% are SA, 7 out
of 20 or 35% are A, 8 out of 20 are N or 40%, 2 out of 20 or 10% are D, and 1 out of 20
respondents or 5% are SD.

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 TABLE 2.3
Believed that MACR will lower the crime
Verbal Interpretation Respondents Frequency
Strongly Agree (SA) 2 10%
Agree (A) 3 15%
Neutral (N) 6 30%
Disagree (D) 4 20%
Strongly Disagree (SD) 5 25%
TOTAL 20 100%
Table 2.3 Respondents believed that MACR will lower the crime

Table 2.3 shows the respondents different belief that the lowering the MACR can resolve or
lower the crime. 2 out of 20 respondents or 10% are SA, 3 out of 20 or 15% are A, 6 out of 20 or
30% are N, 4 out of 20 or 20% are D, and 5 out of 20 respondents or 25% are SD.

TABLE 2.4
Parents should be liable to the crime committed by the offspring
Verbal Interpretation Respondents Frequency
Strongly Agree (SA) 3 15%
Agree (A) 10 50%
Neutral (N) 5 25%
Disagree (D) 2 10%
Strongly Disagree (SD) 0 0%
TOTAL 20 100%
Table 2.4 Respondents believed that parents should be liable

Table 2.4, shows the different response that the parents should be liable to the crime committed
by their offspring. 3 out of 20 respondents or 15% are SA, 10 out of 20 or 50 % are A, 5 out of
20 or 25% are N, 2 out of 20 or 10% are SD, and 0 out of 20 respondents or 0% are SD.

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 TABLE 2.5
The proposed bill will lead to corruption
Verbal Interpretation Respondents Frequency
Strongly Agree (SA) 2 10%
Agree (A) 4 20%
Neutral (N) 10 30%
Disagree (D) 4 20%
Strongly Disagree (SD) 0 0%
TOTAL 20 100%
Table 2.5 Respondents believed that the bill will lead to corruption

Table 2.5 shows the believed of the respondents that the bill will lead to corruption. 2 out of 20
respondents or 10% of them are SA, 4 out of 20 or 20% are A, 10 out of 20 or 30% are N, 4 out
0f 20 or 20% are D, and 0 out of 20 respondents Or 0% are SD.

TABLE 2.6
The proposed bill is against Human Rights
Verbal Interpretation Respondents Frequency
Strongly Agree (SA) 5 25%
Agree (A) 6 35%
Neutral (N) 5 25%
Disagree (D) 4 20%
Strongly Disagree (SD) 0 0%
TOTAL 20 100%
Table 2.6 Respondents believed that the bill is against human rights

Table 2.6 shows that 5 out of 20 respondents or 25% are SA, that the proposed bill is against
Human Rights. 6 out of 20 or 35% are A, 5 out of 20 or 25% are N, 4 out of 20 or 20% are D,
and 0 out of 20 respondents or 0% are D that the proposed bill is against Human Rights.

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 TABLE 2.7
Children of the poor are most engaged to crime
Verbal Interpretation Respondents Frequency
Strongly Agree (SA) 8 40%
Agree (A) 4 20%
Neutral (N) 6 30%
Disagree (D) 2 10%
Strongly Disagree (SD) 0 0%
TOTAL 20 100%
Table 2.7 Children of the poor are most engaged to crime​.

Table 2.7 shows that 8 out of 20 respondents or 40% of them are SA that the children of the poor
are most engaged to crime, 4 out of 20 or 20% are A, 6 out of 20 or 30 % are N, 2 out of 20 or
10% are d, and 0 out of 20 or 0% are SD that the children of the poor are the most engaged in
crime.

TABLE 2.8
The proposed bill is not clearly studied and explained
Verbal Interpretation Respondents Frequency
Strongly Agree (SA) 9 45%
Agree (A) 6 30%
Neutral (N) 5 25%
Disagree (D) 0 0%
Strongly Disagree (SD) 0 0%
TOTAL 20 100%
Table 2.8 The proposed bill is not clearly studied and explained

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The table 2.8 shows the agreement or disagreement of the respondents about the proposed bill
that is not well studied and explained. 9 out of 20 respondents or 45% are SA, 6 out of 20 or 30%
are A, 5 out of 20 or 25% are N, and both D and SD got 0 out of 20 respondents or 0%.

TABLE 2.9
MACR is good to in International Standard
Verbal Interpretation Respondents Frequency
Strongly Agree (SA) 3 15%
Agree (A) 3 15%
Neutral (N) 7 35%
Disagree (D) 3 15%
Strongly Disagree (SD) 4 20%
TOTAL 20 100%
Table 2.9 MACR is good to in International Standard

This table 2.9 shows the different response of the respondents, that the MACR is good to be
inlined with International standard, 3 out of 20 respondents or 15% of them are SA, 3 out of 20
or 15% are A, 7 out of 20 or 35% are N, 3 out of 20 or 20% are SD about it.

TABLE 2.10
MACR is against Religion/belief
Verbal Interpretation Respondents Frequency
Strongly Agree (SA) 1 5%
Agree (A) 5 25%
Neutral (N) 7 35%
Disagree (D) 5 25%
Strongly Disagree (SD) 2 10%
TOTAL 20 100%
Table 2.10 MACR is against Religion/belief

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Table 2.10 give a different responses about the MACR that is against in religion/belief. 1 out of
20 respondents or 5% are SA, 5 out of 20 or 25% are A, 7 out of 20 or 35% are N, 5 out of 20 or
25% are D, and 2 out of 20 respondents or 10% are SD.

Objective 3:​ ​To know the acts or crimes that juvenile offenders should be jailed.

Table 3.1 Acts/Crime

The table 3.1 shows the different crimes or acts that juvenile offender would be jailed. In killed
someone 16 out of 20 respondents or 80% in equivalent that are agreed and 4 out of 20 or 20%
are undecided and 0 respondents for disagreement If a child raped someone he must be in jailed
according to the responses of the our respondents with standing of 85% or 17 out of 20
respondents and 3 of the respondents are undecided. If the child stole a food no respondents who
agreed that the child should be in jailed, yet 7 or 35% are undecided and 13 or 65% who
disagreed. In acting as a drug courier 11 or 55% agreed that the child should be in jailed, 8 or 40
% are still undecided, and 1 or 5% who disagreed. In terms of snatching 6 or 30% are agreed that
the child should be in jailed, 7 or 35% are undecided and 7 or 35% who are disagree.For
disorderly conduct 4 or 210% said that the child should be in jailed , 7 or 35% are undecided,
and 9 or 45% who dis agreed.In vandalism no one agreed that the child should be in jailed, yet 6
or 30% are undecided and for who disagree which is 13 or 65%.

CHAPTER V: FINDINGS, SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

21 | ​Page
Findings: Based on the gathered information from the survey questionnaires, most of the
respondents disagreed about the proposed bill in congress which is lowering the age of criminal
responsibility from 15 to 12. However, there are some who agreed to the proposed bill. As a
result of this, the respondents have agreed more on the statement that children aged 12 years old
should not be criminally liable because they are not matured yet. More respondents also
disagreed that lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility can resolve the crimes in our
country. This means that there are other ways that the government should do to lessen the crime
incidents in our country. The results also show that respondents agreed more on making the
parents liable for a criminal act committed by their children.. More of the respondents have
neutral reactions about the instances that the proposed bill will lead or result to corruption. Most
of the respondents didn't believed that the proposed bill is against human rights. Most of the
respondents believed that the proposed bill is disadvantageous to the poor who are most engaged
in crimes.There are many many respondents believed that the proposed bill is not clearly studied
and explained to the public. A greater number of the respondent didn’t believed that lowering the
minimum age of criminal responsibility is good so that we are in line with the international
standards. Most of the chosen respondents disagreed that the proposed bill is against their
religion or belief. The respondents also believed that crimes like killing someone, raped a person,
and act as drug courier that juvenile offenders committed should be jailed. Majority of the
respondents disagreed on the acts like stealing food, snatch a cellphone, disorderly conduct, and
vandalism should the juvenile offenders should be jailed for.

Summary: ​This study is conducted to determine the reactions of the students in University of
the East - Manila 1st year major in accountancy on the proposed bill which is lowering the
minimum age of criminal responsibility.

1. Their demographic profile of the respondents in terms of:

d. Age

22 | ​Page
 e. Gender

f. Ages of brother or sister

2. Their reactions of the respondents on the issues regarding lowering the minimum age of
criminal responsibility.

3. The acts that juvenile offenders should be jailed.

The researchers used survey questionnaires to get the results that we are intending to attain. The
results of the study showed that 10 of the respondents who disagreed and strictly disagreed for an
equivalent of 50 percent while 7 of the respondents agreed and strongly agreed or an equivalent
of 35 percent while other 3 respondents are neutral equivalent to 15 percent that they are in favor
of lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility. If we summarize all the results coming
from the respondents, they are not greatly agreed to the proposed bill.

Conclusion: ​Therefore the researchers conclude that the Lowering Age of Criminal
Responsibility from 15 yrs old to 12 yrs old should be elaborate more and explain well to the
public to make them aware to what will be the possible outcome if the bill will be implemented
to the country.

In this study, it seems that students know what was the bill for. . The reason why the result of
this study “ The reactions of students in University of the East-Manila, Major in Accountancy on
lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility should not be implemented.

Recommendations: ​The following recommendations are beneficial and helpful to:

Juveniles: They should be aware on their right as a youth in this country. They should put a
stand on their reactions to the proposed bill because they are the one who greatly affected. They
should try to study the proposed bill clearly and think that the poor ones are most targeted to the
bill because they are usually engaged in crimes.

23 | ​Page
Lawmakers: They should hear the voices and reactions of the youth because they are the ones
who make laws for the betterment of the whole citizenry. They should study and explain more
the laws that they proposed to the public.

Parents​: They should teach their children good manners and right conduct because values start
from home. They should not put their children in danger and in crimes because there are many
laws in our country that focuses on the general welfare of the public.

24 | ​Page
Bibliography

Books

Aizer, A. and J. J. Doyle (2015). Juvenile incarceration, human capital and future crime:
Evidence from randomly-assigned judges. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 130 (2), 759-803.

Danish Ministry of Justice (2014). Udviklingen i børne- og ungdomskriminalitet 2001-2013.

Justitsministeriets Forskningskontor.

Danish Ministry of Justice (2015). Udviklingen i børne- og ungdomskriminalitet 2001-2014.

Justitsministeriets Forskningskontor. Danish Ministry of Justice (2016). Udviklingen i børne- og
ungdomskriminalitet 2006-2015. Justitsministeriets Forskningskontor.

Hansen, B. and G.R. Waddell (2014). Walk Like a Man: Do Juvenile Offenders Respond to
Being Tried as Adults? Unpublished Manuscript. Hjalmarsson, R. (2009). Juvenile Jails: A Path
to the Straight and Narrow or to Hardened Criminality? The Journal of Law & Economics, 52(4),
779-809.

Hjalmarsson, R. (2009a). Juvenile Jails: A Path to the Straight and Narrow or Hardened
Criminality?. Journal of Law and Economics 52(4), 779-809.

Loeffler, C. E. and A. Chalfin (2017). Estimating the Crime Effects of Raising the Age of
Majority. Criminology & Public Policy, 16, 45–71.

Websites

Children's Rights and the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=c2s3DAAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=history of
lowering the age of criminal liability&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwig7Yq25IrhAhXDZt4
KHWRnA9QQ6AEIKDAA&fbclid=IwAR2XjT_C8bJ42tonNI_8COTEVDC9-Z3​AWELraDWbh
I-v70NysJ8L4J09Ttc#v=onepage&q&f=false

Gavilan, J. (n.d.). Majority of Filipinos want 15 as minimum age of criminal liability – SWS
survey. Retrieved from
https://www.rappler.com/nation/222124-public-perception-minimum-age-criminal-

25 | ​Page
responsibility-sws-survey-july-december-2018
Republic Act No. 9344 | GOVPH. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2006/04/28/republic-act-no-9344-s-2006/?fbclid=IwAR0x_es
426pIsUqdAXXPCGJB4aBVkw59GQGLxQvqbbuNnS6MY-8oVPei5fU
News Articles. (n.d.). Retrieved from ​http://gsb.ateneo.edu/news-and-updates/minimum-age
-for-criminal-liability/?fbclid=IwAR0LfaaQpekrHyYTARrls94HyDS-lLvTZ_p2SOA1laooMaQ
BMYr_K8xXEtY
On the Amendment to the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act. (n.d.). Retrieved from ​https://www
.pap.org.ph/position-paper/amendment-juvenile-justice-and-welfare-act?fbclid=IwAR0WDYWJ
nRbaNURE6cJKHLc7DURS6BbCoJGKBL_-5Wrw6KYof-qI84ISEVY

26 | ​Page
APPENDIX

SURVEY LETTER

March 13, 2019

Dear Fellow Students:

A pleasant day for you!

We are conducting a research study about "The Reactions of University of

the East- Manila College of Business Administration Major in Accountancy Students on
lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility”. It seeks to answer some of the issues
relating to the proposed bill in Congress and your stand or reactions as a youth in this
country.

The ​bill seeks to amend Republic Act (RA) 9344 or the Juvenile Justice Act of 2006
which exempts 15- to 18-year-olds from criminal liability to lower the minimum age of
criminal liability to 12 years old. A minimum 12 years of imprisonment in juvenile care
units would be imposed as punishment.

Your reactions and answers are beneficial in attaining the purpose of this research.
We are requesting you to answer the questions truthfully in this survey questionnaire. We
assure you that all your answer will be strictly confidential.

Thank you for your cooperation. Your answers will be a big help. May God bless
you always!

Very truly yours,

Logarta, Kent B.

27 | ​Page
 Vergara, Mary Chris

Researchers

SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE

INSTRUCTIONS: Please answer what is being asked. Choose your preferred answer by
putting a check mark. You may choose two or more answers or you may specify your other
answers.

Part 1: Demographic Profile

A. Name (optional):___________________________

B.​ G
​ ender: ______Male______Female

C.​ ​Age: ______Below 18 years old

______19 years old

______20 years old

______21 years old above

D.​ N
​ umber of younger brother or sister?______

Part 2: Questions

Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly

Sentences/Statements Agree Disagree

28 | ​Page
1. I am in favor of lowering
the minimum age of
criminal responsibility from
18 years old to 12 years old.

2. I believed that lowering

the minimum age can
resolve the crimes in our
country.

3. I believed that children

aged 12 years old and below
should not be imprisoned
because they are not
mentally matured yet.

4. I believed that parents

should be liable for
imprisonment instead of
children because they are
the one who guided them.

5. I believed that the

proposed bill will lead or
result to corruption.

6. I believed that the

proposed bill is against
human rights.

29 | ​Page
7. I believed that lowering
the minimum age of
criminal responsibility will
result to more government
expenses.

8. I believed that the

proposed bill is not clearly
studied and explained to the
public

9. I believed that lowering

the minimum age of
criminal responsibility will
result to abuse of powers by
government officials.

10. I believe that the

proposed bill is against my
religion.

30 | ​Page
Jail for Juvenile Offenders

Crimes/ Acts Agree Undecided Disagree

Killed Someone

Raped a Person

Snatching

Act as Drug Courier

Snatch a Cell phone

Disorderly Conduct

Vandalism

31 | ​Page
Curriculum Vitae

Name: Kent B. Logarta

Age: 18 years old

Birthday: May 26, 1999

Birthplace: Aurora General Hospital Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur

Address: Block 26 Lot 16 Maypajo, Caloocan City

Fathers name: Eduardo S. Logarta (Deceased)

Mothers Name: Janette B. Logarta

32 | ​Page
Occupation: Private Nurse

Hobbies: Watching Hollywood movies and playing mobile games

Name: Mary Chris H. Vergara

Age: 19 yrs old

Birthday: December 25, 1999

Birthplace: San Juan, Batangas

Address: 2599, Zamora St. Barangay 96, Pasay City, Manila

Fathers name: Ferdinand H. Vergara

Mothers Name: Ma. Nenita H. Vergara

33 | ​Page
Hobbies: Watching Anime and KDrama

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