DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros should read police reports or perhaps work on grassroots issues before making a claim that the lowering the minimum age of criminal liability is immoral, ineffective and unscientific, according to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
In an Instagram post on Saturday, the local chief executive hit back at Hontiveros, saying the opposition lawmaker is clearly detached from the reality.
“The Madame who said that lowering the age of criminal liability to 12 years old as immoral, unscientific and ineffective is clearly out of touch with reality. This person has not regularly read police reports, have not talked to social welfare workers or has worked on grassroots issues,” Duterte-Carpio said.
Hontiveros, a known vocal critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, said in a statement on Thursday that such proposal is “immoral, unscientific and ineffective.”
“There is no sense debating and choosing whether the minimum age of criminal responsibility should be pegged at 12 or 9 years old. There is really no difference. Can a 12-year-old compared to a nine-year-old get married, get a driver’s license, participate in elections, buy alcohol and watch R-16/18 films? The obvious answer is no,” Hontiveros said.
But Duterte-Carpio said: “This Madame and her like-minded friends compare other well-developed countries to the Philippines as if the culture, the psyche, the circumstances are the same. What I would give to lock you in a room for one night with a 13 year old Sukarap gang member, para makatilaw ka.”
“Eto pa, hindi sila criminal, they are children in conflict with the law. Eh dba its the same banana? Ladies and gentlemen, children are capable of commiting crimes. Put that in your head. Wag na sana kayo mag pretend na anghel ang mga bata, wala po tayo sa langit,” she added.
According to the Presidential daughter, Davao has documented cases of 12,13,14-year-old children committing various crimes such as murder, theft, robbery, drug smuggling, drug peddling even arson.
“If you do not want them in jail with adults put them in your child in conflict with the law age appropriate jail. The issues may be a complicated web of poverty, illiteracy, broken families, abuse and a simpleton Madame (who supports children criminals for the reason that they are children. phew) but all these are no excuse to spare the rod and let the problem of underage criminals fester. Take your head out of your butthole Madame and walk Metro Manila streets at night. Alone. Awon nato,” she added. (davaotoday.com)
