Lowering the Age of Criminal Responsibility for Violent School Crimes

School grounds must always be safe spaces for students  to learn, grow, and feel protected. However, the rising threat of gun violence and severe attacks in educational institutions demands immediate action and common-sense updates to our laws.

Under the current Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (Republic Act No. 9344), individuals aged 15 and below are completely exempt from criminal liability, while those aged 15 to 17 face minimal legal consequences unless prosecutors can prove explicit "discernment." While this law was created to protect children, it fails to account for modern realities when extreme, planned acts of violence, such as school shootings are committed.

By signing this petition, you are advocating for critical reforms that will:

Deliver Justice for Victims and Families: Ensure that those who plan and commit severe, life-threatening violent acts are held legally accountable for their actions, providing true justice to affected families.

Close Exploitable Legal Loopholes: Prevent violent offenders from using age as an automatic shield against serious legal consequences when committing major crimes on school grounds.

Protect Our Campuses: Establish a strong legal deterrent that protects students, teachers, and school staff from extreme campus violence.

Reflect Modern Understanding: Acknowledge that today's youth have unprecedented access to information and understand the gravity, intent, and fatal consequences of using deadly weapons.

Demand Balanced Reform: Require strict legal accountability for heinous crimes while maintaining rehabilitative and psychological support systems for young offenders.

Your signature matters. Stand with us to update our juvenile justice system, hold violent offenders accountable, and restore safety to our schools. Sign the petition today.