Duterte laments use of kids in illegal drugs trade

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte lamented Tuesday, January 22, that children are being used by drug syndicates although he remained noncommittal on the proposal to lower the minimum age of criminal liability to nine years old.

"Noong five days ago, ang nagmi-maintain ngayon ng shabu, ang mga bata. Kung may parokyanong makita nila at naghahanap, dadalhin nila doon, pahithitin nla. Sila na ang kukubra pati ang mga bata, shoot na rin sila as young as six, eight, nine, 14 [years old]," Duterte said during the annual assembly of the Provincial Union of Leaders Against Illegalities in Lucena City.

(Five days ago, we learned that the children are the ones maintaining the shabu trade. If they find a customer, they will bring that to them. They serve as couriers, the children as young as six, eigh, nine, 14 [years old].)

Duterte was apparently referring to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency's operation, which led to the arrest of some 28 drug suspects, including 12 minors.

The youngest suspect accosted during the operation is a four-year-old girl. Seven other minors are aged 12 to 15.

The President has yet to take a specific stand on his preferred age of young offenders who must be punished by law.

But he once again slammed the human rights groups that persistently criticized his brutal crackdown on illegal drugs, which claimed the lives of at least 5,000 alleged drug offenders.

"Kita mo ang ginagawa ng mga u***. Tapos sabihin mo sa akin sa human rights, 'There's a son of a b**** lying dead there.' Iyan lang ang worry mo tapos sinisira ang bayan ko? P***** i** mo, papatayin talaga kita," he said.

(Look at what those fools are doing. Then the human rights will tell me, "There's a son of a b**** lying dead there." Is that your worry? They're ruining my country. Son of a b****, I'll really kill you.)

Duterte made the statement while the Congress is deliberating on the proposal to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility to nine years old from the current 15 years old.

A House bill aims to punish children as young as nine years old, while a version of the Senate seeks to hold children aged 12 years old and above criminally liable for their unlawful acts.

Earlier Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte is leaving to Congress the determination of the minimum age of criminal liability.

Duterte maintained that he would not let drug personalities to jeopardize the lives of his fellow Filipinos.

"Do not kill our sons and daughters, 'yang droga na 'yan (with that illegal drugs) because I will kill you. I could not be more clear than that. Pag sinira mo ang bayan ko talagang magwawala ako (If you ruin my country, I will fly into a rage)," the President said. (SunStar Philippines)