FALSE. She reiterated that minors have the guts to do crimes because they could evade criminal liability.
FACT. The post is fabricated and the image showing her quote is not factual.
A Facebook post circulating claims that socio-political vlogger Lovely Granada believes minor children could commit crimes because they are unpunishable by the law.
The viral image with a quote attributed to her reiterates, “Kaya pala lakas ng loob pumatay ng mga minors. Kala nila hindi sila mapparusahan ng batas dahil minor.”
It also featured the images of Senator Robin Padilla and former Representative Kiko Barzaga that – according to the image – Granada claimed to be ignorant.
However, there is no truth behind the image since it is generated with artificial intelligence.
There are also no reputable sources that published Granada’s statement officially, nor any publication material that reinforces the quote.
Credible media sources such as GMA News and ABS-CBN would have recorded the quote immediately, but there is no information available to prove that Granada’s statement was correct.
The may have also featured Padilla and Barzaga, but it just aims to damage the reputation of the public figures and there is a political motive behind it.
Moreover, children aged 18 or below are not automatically exempted from criminal liability. Under the guidelines set by the Supreme Court on juvenile liability, they have to face accountability if they acted with “discernment.”
Its scope includes the “ability of a child to understand the moral and psychological components of criminal responsibility and the consequences of the wrongful act; and whether a child can be held responsible for essentially antisocial behavior.”
As for the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act or RA No. 9344, the highest minimum age for criminal responsibility is 15 years old.
