Lowering age of criminal liability not a solution — law professor

Far Eastern University Institute of Law professor Josiah David Quising said that lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility is not a solution to offenses committed by minors, as reported by BusinessWorld.

Quising argued that there is no scientific basis to claim that lowering the age of criminal responsibility would deter children in conflict with the law. He emphasized that punitive measures are not effective for minors and may instead exacerbate the problem.

The professor called for a more holistic approach focusing on rehabilitation and support systems rather than incarceration, noting that many juvenile offenders come from disadvantaged backgrounds and need social services rather than criminal punishment.