Duterte calls Sen. Pangilinan “most stupid” lawyer

November 11, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday slammed anew one of his critics, opposition Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, calling him the “most stupid” lawyer for passing a law raising the age of minors who are exempted from criminal liability.

In his speech in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Duterte said policemen are having a hard time dealing with minors who committed crimes because of Republic Act No. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.

Under the law, a child 15 years of age or under at the time of the commission of the offense shall be exempt from criminal liability. However, the child shall be subjected to an intervention program. It further states that a child above 15 years but below 18 years of age shall likewise be exempt from criminal liability and be subjected to an intervention program, unless he/she has acted with discernment, in which case, such child shall be subjected to the appropriate proceedings in accordance with RA 9344.

“You, policemen tell me. You, who are here. When did the situation worsen? When -- who is this? He (Pangilinan) passed the law on juvenile law...15 years old, you can't jail (him/her),” he said.

He said Pangilinan should shut up if he would only criticize him.

“If you do not have anything to say except to criticize, like Pangilinan, well I'm sorry, better shut up,” Duterte said.

"You are nothing. You are the dumbest lawyer I know. I will, I'm not trying to destroy him. But I will --- in two minutes, I will destroy him," he added.

Duterte cited incidents wherein teenagers just go scot-free after committing offenses, such as theft, rape or even homicide.

“They just go in and out (of jail) all throughout the the country. Those who commit rape with homicide, nothing,” he said.

“You can’t jail them. You just place them at DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) but there are no security guards so they just escape to commit another crime on another day,” he said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III has filed a bill seeking to lower the age of criminal liability to 13. Ella Dionisio/DMS