The Palace said it is open to reviewing proposals on lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility but will study all possible measures to determine what is most appropriate for Filipino youth, following the recent shooting incident in Tacloban City involving two minors.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is willing to consider policy adjustments amid growing concern over juvenile involvement in violent crimes, but stressed that any decision will be guided by a full assessment of available options.
The Philippine National Police earlier said it supports lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years old from the current 15.
Under Republic Act No. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, children below 15 years old are exempt from criminal liability and are instead placed under intervention and rehabilitation programs managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao said the two minors involved in the Tacloban incident are currently under a youth rehabilitation facility, where they are kept separately and do not interact with each other.
She said the 15-year-old suspect, who has been charged, will remain under court evaluation to determine whether he will stay in the facility or be transferred to a Bahay Pag-asa center, depending on the assessment of the case.
Authorities are also assessing whether the 15-year-old acted with discernment during the incident.
For the 14-year-old, Dumlao said rehabilitation typically lasts six months to one year, but may be extended depending on evaluation and progress.
She acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue, noting her role as a parent, but emphasized that the agency is bound to follow the law.
The Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC) said the law ensures that children in conflict with the law receive proper psychosocial intervention while still being held accountable through rehabilitation measures.
Officials added that the minors are under strict supervision at the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) in Eastern Visayas, undergoing psychological assessments to determine the factors that led to the incident.
Inside the facility, movements are restricted and monitored similarly to persons deprived of liberty, with access to outside contact and personal activities limited as part of rehabilitation protocols.
Authorities also said possible cases against the parents of the minors may be pursued depending on the outcome of ongoing investigations.