MANILA — The government will not rush proposals to lower the minimum age of criminal liability, with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. insisting that experts must first determine whether social media, online content, and other modern influences are contributing to violent behavior among children before any policy change is made.
Speaking to reporters after concluding his four-day official visit to Canada, Marcos emphasized that decisions on juvenile criminal responsibility should be grounded on scientific research and expert findings rather than assumptions.
“I’m not sure how that will work. We have to study it further. ‘Yung ating mga (our) child psychologists, ‘yung mga survey na ginagawa,” Marcos said.
The President said proposals to lower the age of criminal liability are based on the premise that children’s behavior has changed over time, but stressed that such a conclusion must first be validated through research.
“I’m not saying that’s not the case. It’s possible. Nagbago ang mundo eh. Iba ‘yung exposure ng mga bata. Iba ‘yung exposure nila sa social media,” he said.
“So maybe that has an effect. We’re not sure. But we’re studying it very well because of the effects of desensitization,” he added.
Marcos said the government is prepared to adopt stronger interventions if experts establish a direct link between certain online games and violent behavior among children.
“When it is clear that a certain game or class of games are responsible for the desensitization of our children to violence, then yes, I think we should ban them and we will ban them,” he said.
The President’s remarks came as Congress continues to deliberate measures aimed at addressing youth violence.
Among the proposals being discussed is Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian’s measure seeking to prohibit children below 16 years old from accessing social media. Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare, and Rural Development is preparing to review the implementation of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.
Marcos earlier called for a whole-of-society approach to safeguarding children following a series of violent incidents involving minors, including the June 22 school shooting in Tacloban City that claimed the lives of three students./PN
