Dingdong Dantes calls for 'enabling environment' for children, not criminalization

MANILA, Philippines — Kapuso actor Dingdong Dantes is not in favor of lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 15 years old to nine years old. 

In his Twitter account, Dingdong shared a video of Chel Diokno where the human rights lawyer said that he opposed the proposal. 

“Agree ako sa iyo, @ChelDiokno! Crucial stage ang childhood and adolescence to one's development. These are periods where psychological, emotional, social and physical aspects are strongly influenced by the surroundings and are formed,” the matinee idol said. 

Agree ako sa iyo, @ChelDiokno! Crucial stage ang childhood and adolescence to one's development. These are periods where psychological, emotional, social and physical aspects are strongly influenced by the surroundings and are formed. https://t.co/SaTLxEdYZC

— Dingdong Dantes (@iamdongdantes) January 20, 2019

In another post, Dingdong added that instead of passing the bill, the administration should focus on creating an environment that will help the youth become more useful to the community. 

2.... Instead of focusing on criminalizing children, the government should invest more on creating an enabling environment that will allow young people to be productive members of the society. https://t.co/SaTLxEdYZC

— Dingdong Dantes (@iamdongdantes) January 20, 2019

“Instead of focusing on criminalizing children, the government should invest more on creating an enabling environment that will allow young people to be productive members of the society,” he said. 

On Monday morning, the House committee on justice voted to approve a bill lowering the age of criminal responsibility to nine years from 15.