15-year-old drug peddler nabbed

MANILA, Philippines—Drug pushers are getting younger.

A 15-year-old boy who sold marijuana to an undercover agent was arrested members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Davao del Norte last Tuesday, said the agency’s chief Director General Undersecretary Jose Gutierrez Jr. on Friday.

The suspect, a high school student, was captured during a buy-bust operation at a clinic in New Pandan village in Panabo City after he sold a pack of marijuana to an anti-narcotic agent.

Authorities confiscated two more packs of marijuana and a P100 marked bill used during the operation.

Gutierrez said drug syndicates could be taking advantage of Section 6 of Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, which exempts minors from criminal liability, in employing minors to do their dirty work.

He said that more and more minors are being involved in the illegal drug trade.

The teenager was taken to the detention facility of the PDEA Regional Office 11 and has been turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The suspect will undergo an intervention program with the DSWD, said Gutierrez.