The League of Filipino Students (LFS) has condemned Senator Robin Padilla’s proposal to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 10 years old, describing it as an “unscientific proposal.”
The statement came in the wake of the shooting incident involving two students at a school in Tacloban City.
In a statement, LFS Chairperson Gabriel Magtibay criticized Padilla, accusing him of being a “certified Gen Z hater.”
Magtibay said that after previously labeling young people as “weak” and “brainwashed,” the senator is now portraying them as criminals.
He questioned why children as young as 10 years old should be targeted when, according to him, individuals responsible for corruption and the deaths of thousands of young people have not been held accountable, and are even being defended by some politicians.
Magtibay argued that children become emboldened to commit acts of violence because they see killers being praised and escaping punishment.
“Kung ang mga totoong kriminal na nagnakaw sa pondo ng bayan at pumatay ng libo-libong kabataan di mapanagot at pinagtatanggol pa ng senador, bakit uunahing tugisin ang mga 10 years old lang? Lumakas ang loob ng mga bata na mamaril kasi nakita nila na pinupuri ang mga pumapatay at walang parusa sa mga pumapatay (If real criminals who stole public funds and killed thousands of young people are not being held accountable—and are even being defended by the senator—why should 10-year-olds be the first ones pursued? Children have become emboldened to commit shootings because they see killers being praised and going unpunished),” he said.
He stressed that the root causes of the problem are a culture of violence and impunity, rather than issues related to intelligence or security.
Instead of closely monitoring and punishing children, he said efforts should focus on guiding the youth and reforming both the culture and the education system.
Magtibay also called for increased funding for public schools and educational reforms aimed at making education more humane, people-oriented, and patriotic so that students learn to view their classmates as fellow Filipinos with rights and dignity.
(PHOTO COURTESY: Senate of the Philippines)
