The apprehension of a tenth grader in possession of marijuana is the latest of the recent arrests made by the authorities on drug-related cases involving the youth.
The Manila Police District (MPD) caught the student inside Arellano University, weeks after another student was also apprehended for possessing the same illegal drug.
The commander of MPD-Station 4 has already sought a dialogue with university officials for the implementation of a drug abuse rehabilitation and education program.
However, under Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 amended as Republic Act 10630, children above 15 years but below 18 years of age are supposed to be exempted from criminal liability.
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They are supposed to be subjected to an intervention program, unless the child has acted with discernment. In such cases, they would be placed in a facility of Bahay Pag-Asa that is most accessible to them.
Rise in youth-related drug cases
Authorities on March 31, 2019 caught a 21-years-old college student from a university in Mendiola with marijuana stashed inside a hair wax container.
He was charged with violating Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and detained in MPD’s Sampaloc Station.
Two college students from De La Salle University and De La Salle-College of St. Benilde were similarly arrested for the same violation on March 18.
The students, ages 23 and 24-years-old, were found in possession of suspected party drugs and crystal meth worth around P1.5 million.
A Grade 11 student of Arellano University was also caught in possession of marijuana on February 21.
Days before he was apprehended, three senior high students of the same university were separately caught for attempting to bring marijuana inside the campus as well. Two of them are of legal age.
The three students were caught by authorities on February 4, 7 and 18, 2019.
11 ninth graders from an unidentified school were also apprehended on February 4.
The students, ages 14 to 17-years-old, were caught by the Makati Police engaged in a drug session at a house owned by a suspected drug personality.
All of them were turned over to the Makati Social Welfare and Development Office.
A criminology student from the Philippine College of Criminology was also caught with alleged marijuana in her bag on January 18.
