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Summary: Lawmakers are seeking the passage of a measure in the next Congress that would slap a penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of up to P5 million against those who would encourage, compel or influence children to be part of an armed group.
[1 April 2013] - Deputy Speaker Maria Isabelle Climaco of Zamboanga lamented that many children continue to become victims of killing, maiming, rape and other forms of violence and abduction, as she pushed for the passage of House Bill 4480.
“The Philippines has a long history of armed conflicts. Filipino children are the most affected by these conflicts impacting severely on their lives,” she said.
She said during armed conflicts, children have become vulnerable to different kinds of exploitation, including being recruited as combatants, spies, messengers or cooks.
“During conflicts, children also experience the loss of access to food, water, sanitation, health, education and other basic services and humanitarian assistance,” Climaco said.
Marikina Rep. Marcelino Teodoro who co-authored the bill cited the need to pass a measure that would address human rights violations against children in armed conflicts.
He explained that under the bill, parents, ascendants, guardians, step parents or collateral relatives within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity or any person having control or moral ascendancy to the child who allows or encourages, compels, coerces, or influences their child or children to be part of an armed group, face six to 12 years imprisonment.
“The bill shall provide relief, protection and rehabilitation to all children and to end impunity and prosecute those responsible especially for grave child rights violations in armed conflict,” Teodoro said.
Among those who co-authored the measure include Malabon Rep. Josephine Veronique Lacson-Noel, Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla, La Union Rep. Eufranio Eriguel, Cibac party-list Rep. Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales, Pangasinan Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, and Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Aurora Enerio-Cerilles.