MANILA, Philippines – The Holy Scriptures state that it is an injustice to hold a child criminally liable at a tender age of 9 years old, according to international televangelist Bro. Eliseo Soriano.

Brother Eli said, the God of the Bible allows a person to make his or her own decision in life only when he or she reaches the age of puberty.

“(In) First Corinthians chapter 7 verse 36, ang pag-aasawa (getting married) is one of the major decisions na maaaring gawin ng tao (that a person can make). Ibinigay ng Dios iyon sa katamtamang gulang, (God allows it at a proper age)” Brother Eli, the overall servant of the Members, Church of God Intenational (MCGI) explained.

“Kung titingnan natin sa Ingles (If we read it in English): “If she passed the flower of her age”. Kapag lampas ng (when he or she reaches the) age of puberty ang ‘flower of her age’. Ini-a-allow na ng Dios na magdesisyon ang isang tao, pinapayagan na ang magulang na ang kaniyang anak magdesisyon sa kaniyang sarili, (God allows a person to decide, a parent lets the child make his or her own decisions),” he added.

Brother Eli noted that even science supports the belief that a person develops his or her skills in decision making only at the age of 20 years old.

“There’s now incontrovertible evidence that the brain continues to develop throughout the adolescence. Some regions of the brain including parts responsible for decision-making and impulse control are not fully mature “until at least the age of 20”, Professor Nicholas Mackintosh once said, an experimental psychologist and Professor Emeritus at the University of Cambridge.

Brother Eli noted that in the Bible, when a child commits a crime, it is most likely because of external factors such as the surrounding circumstances, environment, culture or religion.

Therefore, it is not right to hold a nine-year-old child criminally liable for his actions.

“Kung magbabatay tayo sa may ari ng ating being, iyong nakakaalam ng ating mga kaisipan, mga emosyon natin – para sa Dios – ang bata (If we ask the Owner of our being, the One who reads our mind, our emotions – for God) 20 years old below cannot be held fully liable. I’m saying he or she cannot be held fully liable of his or her sins. Inabswelto nga ng Dios, (God absolved him)” Brother Eli explained.

“Alam kasi ng Dios ang kanilang circumstances, (God knows their circumstances) because of the way their parents are bringing them up. Maaaring may pagkukulang sa parte ng kanilang mga magulang. (There might be shortcomings on the part of the parents). Kaya hindi iniatang sa bata, (that’s why a crime is not blamed on a child) 20 years and below. Binigyan ang bata sa Kaniyang salita ng karapatang mag-decide sa kaniyang sarili (A child is given the freewill to decide only) if he or she passed the flower of her age, according to the bible,” he added.

Instead, the parents of the child who committed a crime are the ones who should be punished because it is their responsibility to guide and mold their children to develop into better persons.

“Para atangan natin ang siyam na taong bata, tawagin nang kriminal anong malay natin na iyon ay (For us to punish a nine-year-old child criminally, call him a criminal, we don’t know it might be) insinuated by the culture, by the environment, by some other people. Hindi ang bata ang dapat managot duon. Dapat ang papanagutin siguro, iyong mga kasama ng bata, mga magulang na di nagtuturo sa kanilang mga anak, walang disiplina, (It’s not the child who must be held liable for that. The persons who should be held criminally liable are the ones who surrounds him – the parents who do not discipline or teach their children,)” the International televangelist noted.

“Kasi ang anak, ang bata nasa total discipline ng magulang. (A child is under the total discipline of the parents) Chapter 22 verse 6 of the book of Proverbs (it says): “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Turuan mo ang bata sa daan na dapat niyang lakaran.” Kaya ang bata, nasa pangangalaga ng magulang, (Train up a child in the way he should go. A child should be under the care of the parents).” Brother Eli concluded. – Marje Pelayo (with reports from Rosalie Coz)

MANILA, Philippines — Janine has been a member of the Bible Readers Society (BREAD) for four years now.

BREAD is a group that encourages Bible reading among the youth.

Janine said she has noticed changes in her life since she learned to read the bible.

“I used to read pocketbooks but since I started reading the Bible, I also learned to obey my parents to study well, to be a good citizen and especially to thank God in the morning and at night,” said Janine.

Under Presidential Proclamation No. 124 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte, the National Bible Month will be celebrated in the whole month of January.

Based on research conducted by the Philippine Bible Society, 55 percent of families in the country have no Bible.

This is why the Philippine Bible Society secretary-general, Nora Lucero urges the public and government officials to take some time to read the Bible.

“The word of God will be our guide now that our country is facing challenges,” said Lucero.

The BREAD was formed in 1998 with the aim of encouraging the youth to stay away from vices and take time to read the Bible.

“Its high time for us to invite the youth to read the bible at least 5 to 10 minutes. If some of us have time for Korean movies and Facebook but the 5 to 10 minutes reading the Bible we will learn good things,” said BREAD-NCR official Brian Gil Bautista.

On one episode of Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path) program, Bro. Eli Soriano of Members Church of God International (MCGI) has said that the Bible is a legacy of God to mankind.

“You memorize the love letter of your suitor. The Bible is a love letter from God to his children his love, care and promises are there in the Bible,” said Bro. Eli.

Meanwhile, the MCGI gave away 300 copies of the Bible to the provincial library of Cavite.

“In behalf of the provincial government of Cavite, thank you very much. This will be a big help to our visitors in our provincial library and also for students,” said Cavite Vice Governor Hon. Ramon Jolo Revilla III.

“First of all thank you to Ang Dating Daan for donating Bibles to our library. This is very important and timely since we are celebrating National Bible Month,” said Cavite provincial librarian Mrs. Concepcion Villanueva. — Grace Casin | UNTV News & Rescue

FILE PHOTO: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during a news conference before he departs for a visit to Thailand and Malaysia at the Ninoy Aquino International airport in Paranaque, Metro Manila in the Philippines, November 9, 2016. REUTERS/Erik De Castro

The first month of the year has been formally designated as the National Bible Month.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation Number 124 to declare the month of January as the National Bible Month while the last week of January is designated as the National Bible Week.

The proclamation signed by the President on January 5, 2017 declares that the state recognizes the religiosity of Filipinos and the influence of religion in society.

The government has also vowed to maintain its neutrality in dealing with members of the religious community in the country.

It also promised to continue supporting the strengthening of ethical and spiritual values of Filipinos as stated in the 1987 Constitution.

The proclamation also states that history is a witness to the positive impact of reading the Bible on society and how it inspires people to do good deeds. — Aga Caacbay | UNTV News and Rescue