w i t h t h e l a w , t h e U N C R C is a g a i n i n f o r m a t i v e w h e n i t r e m i n d s Stat a n d i n s t i t u t i o n s t h a t i n a l l actions c o n c e r n i n g c h i l d r e n , w h e t h e r u p u b l i c o r p r i v a t e s o c i a l w e l f a r e i n s t i t u t i o n s , courts o f l a w , a d a u t h o r i t i e s o r l e g i s l a t i v e bodies, t h e best interests o f t h e c h i p r i m a r y consideration. H o w w i l l t h e best interests o f the c h i l d be served i f t h e age o l i a b i l i t y is l o w e r e d ? T h e C H R c a n n o t f a t h o m a n y j u s t i f i c a t i o n s f o r P r o p o n e n t s o f t h e a m e n d m e n t b e l i e v e t h a t due t o t h e m a s s i v e i n f l m o d e m communications, children have become more mature and m i n f o r m e d . R e c a l l , h o w e v e r , t h a t t h e age o f c r i m i n a l l i a b i l i t y is h i c o n c e p t o f d i s c e r n m e n t w h e r e b y t h e c h i l d can o n l y be h e l d account r e s p o n s i b l e f o r h i s o r h e r actions i f he o r she k n o w s t h e differen r i g h t a n d w r o n g a n d understands t h e consequence o f said actions. i n f o r m a t i o n from w h a t e v e r source does n o t equate t o a c h i l d d i s c e r n m e n t . I n f o r m a t i o n m u s t s t i l l be processed a n d C H R l o o k s t o schools a n d o t h e r s o c i a l i n s t i t u t i o n s , l i k e t h e r e l i g i o u s , t h a t can acquire needed discernment. T h e w r i t e r s a n d s o l o n s t h a t w e r e responsible f o r d e f i n i n g t h e fifteen ( 1 5 ) as t h e age o f d i s c e r n m e n t w e r e g u i d e d b y t w o studies: Innocence: A Study o n the A g e o f Discernment o f Filipino Children" C o u n c i l f o r t h e W e l f a r e o f C h i l d r e n and " A r r e s t e d D e v e l o p m e n t : T h e o f D i s c e r n m e n t o f O u t - o f - S c h o o l C h i l d r e n a n d Y o u t h " conducted b P h i l i p p i n e A c t i o n f o r Y o u t h O f f e n d e r s ( P A Y O ) . I n fact, t h e P A Y O r e v e a l e d t h a t at e i g h t e e n ( 1 8 ) years o f age, the o u t - o f - s c h o o l c h y o u t h tested w e r e at a l e v e l o f d i s c e r n m e n t c o m p a r a b l e t o t h a t o f t 7 - y e a r - o l d . T h e r e f o r e , i f there be a n y l e g i t i m a t e cause f o r a m e n d m e age o f c r i m i n a l l i a b i l i t y as i t n o w stands at fifteen ( 1 5 ) , i t s h o decrease t h e same, but e v e n t o increase i t t o age e i g h t e e n ( 1 8 ) . T h e l e g i s l a t i v e a c t i o n o f l o w e r i n g t h e age o f c r i m i n a l l i a b i l i t j u s t i f i e d u s i n g t h e p r i n c i p l e o f best interests o f t h e c h i l d . I therefore, the proponents o f the amendment to produce an objecti s c i e n t i f i c s t u d y t h e age o f d i s c e r n m e n t o f F i l i p i n o c h i l d r e n . I n a s u c h a s t u d y t h a t c a n p r o v e t h e r e is m e r i t t o treat n i n e ( 9 ) o r t e n p r o p e r age o f d i s c e r n m e n t , t h e C H R opines that t h e p r e v a i l i n g s t a t u should remain. T h e B e i j i n g Rules or the United Nations M i n i m u m Rules for A d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f J u v e n i l e Justice fiirther requires that t h e age o l i a b i l i t y " s h a l l n o t be fixed t o o l o w a n age l e v e l , b e a r i n g i n m i n d emotional, mental and intellectual maturity." ( R u l e 4 ) T h e C H R r e m i n d s that w h e n t h e age o f c r i m i n a l l i a b i l i t y w a s pegg n i n e ( 9 ) y e a r s o f age u n d e r t h e p r e v i o u s P h i l i p p i n e c r i m i n a l l a w t h e U N C o m m i t t e e o n t h e R i g h t s o f t h e C h i l d , i n its C o n c l u d i n g O b s e r 2