Homeless children sleep near the wake of two suspected victims of drug related killings in Navotas. The House on Jan. 28, 2019 passed on third and final reading a bill lowering the age of 'social' liability to 12 years old. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
MANILA - (UPDATED) The House of Representatives on Monday passed on third and final reading a bill lowering the age of "social" liability to 12 years old.
Voting 146-34, lawmakers approved House Bill 8858, which sets the age of responsibility for crimes at 12 years old from the current 15.
Lawmakers earlier proposed 9 years old as the age of criminal liability and used "social" instead of "criminal" responsibility.
The bill seeks to amend provisions of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, which exempts children 15 years old and below from criminal liability.
Proposals to lower the age of criminal liability has been met with criticism from several human rights groups. - with a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News