MANILA - For incoming House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, youth offenders who are proven to have full discernment when committing a crime should face the full force of the law.

He has filed a proposal in the lower House to lower the age of criminal liability to 9 years old.

Alvarez told reporters, "Nakita natin na no matter how noble the purpose of the law, ‘yung increasing to 15 kaya lang in practice, ito'y sinamantala ng mga criminals. Ginagamit ‘yung mga minors, 15 years old, to escape criminal liability. Siguro, (dapat) makita natin yung wisdom ng old law."

Alvarez said this may apply to all minor offenders like the so-called “batang hamog."

"It will apply to everyone. If you commit crime, batang hamog o hindi, walang exemption," Alvarez said.

However, Alvarez explained there are social interventions that these youth offenders will undergo.

"Depende, merong intervention ng social workers. Merong intervention ng ibang departamento ng gobyerno na magre-rehabilitate sa mga criminals na that will fall to that partciular age," he explained.

Still, Alvarez maintained that the ultimate penalty of the youth offenders will be up to the judicial process.

"Of course, kung ano nakalagay sa batas, ‘yun talaga mangyayari. Up to the judge or prosecutor ano sentensiya na ibibigay nila," Alvarez said.

The incoming House Speaker also filed other legislative priorities, such as the reinstatement of the death penalty.

"Heinous crimes ‘yun. Sinasabi ng Constitution, Congress has to define what these heinous crimes are," he said.

Alvarez' proposal imposes the death penalty for plunder, illegal drugs and car theft. Alvarez said protectors of illegal drug traders may face the same penalty.

"Depende iyan to what extent pwede kasi under criminal law, if they are in cahoots with the drug lords, the drug pushers, because the crime cannot be perfected without their participation, pwede rin principal by direct participation. Liability would be the same," Alvarez said.