There is an ongoing initiative in the legislature to lower the age of criminal responsibility from the current 15 years old minimum to 9 years old. This means that children who are only still in Grade 3 can be held liable even for heinous crimes. The outrageousness of this proposal is not backed by any data, nor by any credible study. Taxpayers’ money is being used to push for a measure that is di
sgustingly cruel. Consider this:
• Children in conflict with the law are often poor kids trafficked or coerced by syndicates
• We have existing laws such as the Juvenile Justice Act or RA 9344 that already provides a framework for dealing with children in conflict with the law but has not been fully implemented
• In the context of the ongoing War on Drugs and a similar priority bill reinstating the death penalty by hanging, firing squad or lethal injection, the prospect of children falling prey to the culture of violence and death needs urgent action. These proposals will not only harm children, but they will inflict damage specifically on poor children and their families. The Stop Batang Bilanggo Bill campaign, made of a broad coalition of NGOs and community leaders, seeks YOUR support to:
1. Help spread information about the contents of HB2
2. Help build a critical mass of constituents that can pressure legislators to abandon HB2, specifically its main sponsors Rep Alvarez and ;
3. Popularize the argument that families, communities and government have a shared responsibility to prevent and rehabilitate vulnerable children by recognizing and addressing their poverty. Our aim is to humanize the issue and remind Congress what typical children should be doing - enjoying their childhood and the care of their community, not risking their lives ending up in jail. Please help us trend our opposition to this issue by using the hashtags:
The StopBBB campaign will be escalating pressure on Congress in the next two weeks and we ask you to be part of the fight. For any questions, please contact Vince Cruz at [email protected] / 0977-6478286
