Catriona Gray may be misinformed on lowering age of criminal liability – Palace

February 21, 2019

Malacanang said on Thursday that reigning Miss Universe Catriona Gray should be educated on the need to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility.


This was after the Filipina beauty queen said that the country should focus on addressing the reasons why children commit crimes instead of lowering the minimum age of criminal liability.


"Then she should be educated on the...the meaning of educated is she may have been misinformed of the facts given that the opposition to the lowering comes from...the former critics of the administration," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing.


He said that the current proposal to lower the minimum age of criminal liability from 15 years old to 12 years old includes focusing on the problem.


"Because that is the problem with minors involved in the crimes. So (in the proposed) measure, it also provides the rehabilitation...so you are solving precisely the problem why this people are engaged in crimes," he explained, citing the case of some minors who were recently arrested for their alleged involvement in illegal drugs.


Panelo underscored the need to enlighten or educate the critics of the bill, including Gray.


Despite move to lower the age of criminal liability, the minors who would be involved in the crimes would not go to prison, along with the other adult suspects, but they would undergo rehabilitation, he said.


"Ms. Universe, they won't be jailed. You're right, let’s focus on the problem; we are precisely focusing on the problem. Because the problem is they are engaged in crimes. So what will we do? We will have to rehabilitate them. Learn why they have committed these crimes and then put them back to society," he said.


"But I’m glad that she mentions that, it only means that she’s also concerned; which every Filipino citizen should have the kind of concern," Panelo added. Celerina Monte/DMS