Philippines' House Committee members convene on Monday to pass the substitute bill seeking to lower the age of criminal responsibility.
Under the new law, children nine years old and below at the time the offense was committed would be exempted from criminal liability, while those above nine years of age but below 18 years would be exempt from criminal liability unless the offender acted with discernment.
House panel chair Oriental Mindoro 1st District Rep. Doy Leachon explains in his opening speech, the new law seeks to reform minor offenders, stressing that children will not be branded as criminals but children in conflict with the law.
"It is high time to pass this bill to protect children from being used by ruthless and unscrupulous criminal syndicates to evade prosecution and punishment," Mr Leachon said during the meeting.
'Amended law will protect the children'
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has long been in favour of lowering of the minimum age of criminal liability, blaming the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act for the increasing rate of drug-related crimes committed by young people.
"From the point-of-view of the President, the law presently is being used by the criminals to use the children. To my mind, he wants that amended to protect the children. Those opposing it don't see it that way," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a press conference.
The panel voted 9-1, Agusan del Norte 1st District Rep. Lawrence Fortun voting against the measure.
#ChildrenNotCriminals
Child rights advocates also opposed the approval of the bill on social media, using the hashtag #ChildrenNotCriminals.
The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) called the move to lower the age of criminal liability as "an act of violence against children".
