@ch4rdzy@kikopangilinan For me, dapat regardless of age basta heinous crimes with act of discernment dapat the offender should be criminally liable pa din when they reach legal age.
@iamtinizijo7@kikopangilinan Yes a child who commits a heinous crime with discernment should be rehabilitated while a minor, but should not be permanently exempt from criminal liability solely because of age.
@RENderred It is entirely understandable for people to question whether the present law strikes the right balance between rehab and justice. Many people feel that rehab alone is not enough especially when victims are young students whose lives were cut short.
@RENderred Under the present law, if the child was 14 yrs old at the time of the commission of the offense, he is exempt from criminal liability, even if the offense is as grave as homicide or murder and even if multiple people died. (Sec. 6 of R.A. No. 9344, as amended by R. A. No. 10630)
@RENderred The exemption is permanent with respect to that offense. He cannot be criminally prosecuted for the same act simply because he turns 18 yrs. old in the future because the determining factor is his age at the time the offense was committed, not his age when the case is decided.
@RENderred In this case, the 14 yrs old suspect, regardless of the gravity of his crime, the law does nit allow him to be convicted and imprisoned. He may be placed under rehab or intevention programs or the court may issue otders regarding custody, supervision, and treatment.