11 minor drug users arrested in Cordillera
ANTI narcotics agents in the region noted the arrests of drug users during operations from January to August this year.
According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, most of the arrested minors were aged 17 and came from Benguet with five while Baguio City, Kalinga, and Mt. Province have two apiece.
Of the 11 minors, six were apprehended with shabu while five were caught with marijuana PDEA information officer Atty. Joseph Calulut said.
PDEA, according to Calulut, is eyeing a 100 percent drug free Cordillera however, just recently, they were able to apprehend a barangay official who is an alleged a drug user.
“How can we have a drug free Baguio when we have some
barangay officials who are involved in drug trade,” Calulut added.
Calulut said PDEA is implementing two approach in their fight against illegal drugs which supply reduction and demand reduction.
“When we talk about demand reduction approach, we need to educate the youth on the ill effects. That is why we go to the schools and lecture them on the dangerous drugs and hopefully, student organizations will come up with projects not only to congregate this students but also to give lectures on the ill effects of the dangerous drugs as well as what are prohibited under the law,” Calulut explained.
Meanwhile, in Baguio City, Social Welfare and Development Office Community Based Program Division officer Coralie Dulnuan said there were 27 minors, aged 15 to 17-years-old who surrendered from July 2016 to August 2017.
Majority of the surrenderees were marijuana users with 24 males and three females. After their surrender, they went through modular session of rehabilitation.
Common reasons these minors engage themselves in drugs is because of their own curiosity and dysfunction in the family. Lauren Alimondo