Q: Sir, ang Congress pineg (peg) na nila sa 12 ‘yung criminal responsibility.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well if it’s the final decision, I’m comfortable with it. I’m comfortable with it. As long as they — above 12 below 16, ‘yung indeterminate sentence doon ang papasok lang, okay na ako.
Q: You really wanted 12 sir? Not nine as initially proposed?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well, but that was the ori — ibinabalik ko ‘yung original.
Q: Iyong sa RPC, sir?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Oo ‘yung original was really not below nine, above nine, below 12, tapos above 12 below 16. Iyon ang original. Ibinabalik ko lang.
Q: But what age do you want it set?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well, ang sabi ko ibalik na lang ninyo sa dati. Sabi ko, but kung ayaw ninyo and you want other targeted ah — may trajectory kayo na iba, then it’s okay with me. Twelve okay na.
Q: Pero sir what was your reaction doon sa nine? Masyadong mababa po ba ‘yun para sa inyo?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Hindi ah, sabi ko… Iyon ang original law bago pinakialaman ni… The one single Filipino lawmaker who did the greatest disservice sa country niya.
Q: So you would wanted it to be nine? You would have wanted it to be nine despite…
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well, sabi ko isauli lang ninyo if you cannot agree. Return to the original law. But if you have some other ideas in mind, I’m open to it. I’m not… Suggestion ko lang.
Q: Sir, ang nine po ba hindi masyadong bata?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Alam mo… Bakit gusto ko — do you really want the rationale? Kasi gusto ko at that age, pati ang parents must be conscious of the criminal accountability already.
Ganung edad pa lang, inano, pukpukin na because they will be ultimately responsible. Sila ‘yung tatamaan eh. Any violation of law ng bata ngayon at nagkulang ‘yung supervision and vigilance ng parents, sila ang idedemanda.
Kaya ako, gusto ko maaga pa lang, early in life, ganun na nga. Tutal hindi naman talaga nakukulong ‘yan. Pupunta lang ‘yan sa social workers para magle-lecture.
Q: Those against it sir are saying kasi nine years old wala pa pong discernment. So…
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: No, it’s not that. Pero kung may kasalanan, tatawagin ‘yan sila, they will have a session with your social workers at tuturuan sila bakit hindi pwede ‘yan. At an early age, they will get the lecture na para to instill accountability and responsibility.
Q: Sir, ang sinasabi ng House ‘yun pong nine, I mean kahit nasa 12 na siya ngayon, that’s what you wanted daw po originally. Would you confirm that, sir?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well, I am comfortable with 12.
Q: Okay.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Okay na ako.
Q: Sir, last, sabi mo meron ka pong slate? Are you going to have your own personal ticket for senator?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yes, dito sa ano…
Q: Personal, sir? Can you give us names apart from the three who you always mention?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well si Angara, si Pia, si — sino pa ba ‘yung mga babae? Si…
Q: Cynthia, sir? Villar?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Cynthia Villar. Of course, they supported me and I have to support them.
Q: Okay. This is separate from your party slate?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well, this is just the right thing to do.
Q: Is this separate from your party slate?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yes, I would think so. Not all. Hindi kami magkaintindihan diyan sa — sa exact numbers. But I would be supporting those who supported me during the last elections. Utang na loob ‘yan eh.
Q: Sila Imee po?
Q: Sir, any reaction…
Q: Imee Marcos?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yes, of course.
Q: Sir, any reaction lang sa initial — unofficial tally sa BOL plebiscite na marami ‘yung yes?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yes, I’m very happy. We are a step nearer to a peaceful Mindanao. But then we have to refocus again dito sa western side kasi si Misuari.
Si Misuari must also have something there. Hindi naman pwede na sa isang ano lang eh. Eh Sulu voted “no.” So that’s something. So I have to take that into account, otherwise sabihin nila binalewala ‘yung ano nila damdamin nila.
You know how — that’s how it operates sa — especially among the Moro people.
Q: Sir, konti lang.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Because of that suffering there sa…
Q: Sir, just on the critics. How do you think will lowering the age of criminality — criminal liability solve the drug problem, sir?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Because it will also start early ‘yung ano — ‘yung sa eskwelahan — of age na ‘yan eh. Sa eskwelahan pati ‘yung parents. Because of the parang subsidiary liability ng parent.
Q: Okay.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Automatic ‘yan. Ngayon, sila ‘yung huhulihin. So at an early age they should start the discipline.
Q: Okay sir. Basically sir for you it’s not a matter of at what age a child’s brain matures and…
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: No, it’s the — it’s the wherewithals that comes with it. Alam mo maaga pa, “Eh makukulong tayo dito, anak.” T*** i**, huwag kang you know. Don’t mess up with the law because you will hold us responsible.
So at that early, iyong parents mapipilitan na rin sila.
Q: Narendahan ‘yung anak?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Oo, rendahan ‘yung anak kasi sila ang masasabit.
Q: Sir, you keep mentioning about DAR officials na balak niyong sibakin. Sino-sino po ito and ilan po sila, sir?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Diyan sa DAR, iyang — the office there that has something to do with conversions. Iyong… Imagine, two years. That two years is kalokohan ‘yan.
Q: Is it a warning or are you already firing them?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: No, no, no, no. Wala akong warning basta corruption.
Q: Sir, ilan ‘yun? Ilan sila, sir? Ilan sila, sir? The entire…
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Sila? Ewan ko.
—END—
SOURCE: PCOO – PND (Presidential News Desk)
