Amnesty PH opposes lowering liability age after Tacloban school shooting

MANILA, Philippines – Amnesty International Philippines on Tuesday opposed calls to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) following the Tacloban school shooting, saying it does not address the root causes of child-related violence.

Ritz Lee Santos III, Amnesty International Philippines section director, warned against using the tragedy to push what he described as “failed and dangerous” proposals to amend the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.

READ: Palace: Marcos open to lowering age of criminal responsibility

Article continues after this advertisement

“Such knee-jerk reactions fail to address the root causes of harm and places more children at risk,” he said.

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

The group’s statement came after the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School that left three students dead and several others injured.

Authorities have arrested two student suspects, aged 14 and 15, while the investigation remains ongoing.

Under the Juvenile Justice Act, children aged 15 and below are not held criminally liable.

Those over 15 but under 18 may be held responsible if proven to have acted with discernment, with a focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment.

Article continues after this advertisement

Santos said the Juvenile Justice Act already provides mechanisms to hold children accountable for unlawful acts.

It also prioritizes rehabilitation over punishment, in line with the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Exposing children to harsher punishment does not prevent them from committing crimes but it can only further harm and increase the likelihood of reoffending,” he said.

He said the Tacloban shooting reflects broader societal issues, including weak child protection systems and inadequate psychosocial support.

Furthermore, he said issues includes normalization of violence in homes, communities, online spaces, and public discourse.

“The appropriate response is not to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility, but to create stronger child protection systems, and sustain efforts to build culture of peace and respect for human rights,” he said.

“The pursuit of justice for the victims of the Tacloban school shooting must never come at the expense of children’s rights,” he added.

He said that in times of grief and public outrage, the government should avoid ineffective punitive measures and instead prioritize child protection and accountability under human rights standards.Following the school tragedy, Sen. Robin Padilla renewed his push for a bill seeking to decrease the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 10 years old.

Palace said Marcos Jr. is also open to lowering the age of criminal responsibility, however no set age is mentioned yet.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

Meanwhile, Senator Francis Pangilinan opposed lowering the age of criminal liability, saying stronger enforcement of existing laws and better family and community support would be more effective in preventing youth crime. /jpv