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- Celebrities expressed their disapproval of bill that lowers criminal liability to nine years old.
- This includes reactions from Bianca Gonzales, Anne Curtis, Dingdong Dantes, Jim Paredes, and Bullet Dumas.
The House of Panel has approved the bill that lowers the minimum age of criminal liability from 15 years old to 9 years old. This has sparked outrage not just from netizens, but also from known showbiz personalities.
Celebrities have expressed their opinions on the move by the government which has drawn dismay and disapproval by many.
Television host Bianca Gonzales may not have tweeted anything regarding the topic, but she has retweeted a message by Carlo Pamintuan stating that jailing 9-year-olds “will not do anything” because the children are just forced to commit the crime due to poverty.
Jailing nine-year-olds will not solve anything. We need to address the real issue here. Younger people are forced to commit crime because of poverty. Pupunuin natin ng bata ang mga kulungan for petty theft while those who steal millions roam free.
— Carlo Pamintuan (@carlo_pamintuan) January 21, 2019
It’s Showtime host Anne Curtis has directly expressed her opposition towards the bill saying that the news saddens her as the kids still have a chance to change their ways.
Nakakalungkot isipan na ibaba nila ang criminal responsibility to the age of 9. At that age, they are still very much children. They still have a chance to change their ways if they happen to cause or get into any trouble instead of being sent to jail & sentenced as an adult. 💔 https://t.co/H9to9QHyjD
— Anne Curtis-Smith (@annecurtissmith) January 22, 2019
Another host from It’s Showtime and musician Teddy Corpuz shared a two-part video of kids who experienced law under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act in 2006.
Paano daw yung mga 9years old na mga bata ginagamit nang mga sindikato para gumawa nang krimen?
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Eh Di hulihin nyo yung SINDIKATO!— zndɹoƆ ʎppǝ⊥ (@teddspotting) January 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/teddspotting/status/1087750662551715840
https://twitter.com/teddspotting/status/1087751250500902914
Actor Dingdong Dantes has agreed to the statement of Atty. Chel Diokno. He added that the children are at the age wherein they are strongly influenced by the adults around them.
Agree ako sa iyo, @ChelDiokno! Crucial stage ang childhood and adolescence to one's development. These are periods where psychological, emotional, social and physical aspects are strongly influenced by the surroundings and are formed. https://t.co/SaTLxEdYZC
— Dingdong Dantes (@dingdongdantes) January 20, 2019
He also suggested that the government should focus on creating an environment that will make the youth productive members of the society.
2…. Instead of focusing on criminalizing children, the government should invest more on creating an enabling environment that will allow young people to be productive members of the society. https://t.co/SaTLxEdYZC
— Dingdong Dantes (@dingdongdantes) January 20, 2019
Jim Paredes has described the news as “disgusting”.
https://twitter.com/Jimparedes/status/1087198978528006144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1087198978528006144&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rappler.com%2Fentertainment%2Fnews%2F221528-local-celebs-react-to-lowering-age-of-criminal-liability
He has also questioned the statement of Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo who said that the criminals nowadays are the minors that were used by former delinquents because they grew up that way.
https://twitter.com/Jimparedes/status/1087210440248066050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1087210440248066050&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rappler.com%2Fentertainment%2Fnews%2F221528-local-celebs-react-to-lowering-age-of-criminal-liability
OPM arist Bullet Dumas shared a photo by Plcpd Foundation, Inc. stating that “children are not little adults”.
https://www.facebook.com/bulletdumastugtog/posts/2325741474176471
Justice panel chairperson Salvador Leachon justified the bill, clarifying that it is only to protect the children from being used by syndicates.
