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Only 2% of crimes committed by kids, says children's rights group

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<figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1393251" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>MANILA -- Holding 12-year-old children criminally liable will not address the problem of criminality in the country, the leader of a children&#x27;s rights group said Sunday. </p><p>Citing government data, Eule Rico Bonganay of the Salnlahi Alliance for Children&#x27;s Concerns said only 2 percent of the total number of crimes in the country were committed by children. </p><p>&quot;Still, the 98 percent of those crimes are committed by adults. So if we focus on crimes committed by children it will create a very minimal impact in terms of curbing crime,&quot; he told ANC.</p><p>Last Wednesday, the House of Representatives approved on second reading a bill lowering the age of criminal liability to 12 years old, instead of 9, as first proposed.</p><p>The current age of criminal liability in the country is 15. Minors involved in crime are brought to Bahay Pag-asa youth center facilities under the current system. </p><p>But Bonganay said children aged 9 or 12 are all the same in terms of brain development, as they have deficiencies in decision-making process, and are still vulnerable in coercive circumstances. </p><p>Authorities should use the reformative, instead of punitive, approach in dealing with children in conflict with the law, the rights group leader added. </p>

<p>Holding 12-year-old children criminally liable will not address the problem of criminality in the country, the leader of a children's rights group said Sunday. </p>

Holding 12-year-old children criminally liable will not address the problem of criminality in the country, the leader of a children's rights group said Sunday.