Drug pushers are using a young child in selling Marijuana in Cotabato, A Southern Philippine province.
Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant. The plant contains the mind-altering chemical THC and other similar compounds. Extracts can also be made from the cannabis plant.
Under the criminal law of the Philippines, The penalty of life imprisonment to death and a fine ranging from Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) to Ten million pesos (P10,000,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person, who, unless authorized by law, shall possess any Marijuana in the following quantities, regardless of the degree of purity thereof.
- 10 grams or more of marijuana resin or marijuana resin oil
- 500 grams or more of marijuana
The Drug Pushers in that part of the Philippines seems undeterred by the government’s effort to curtail the proliferation of prohibited drugs and prohibited drug selling activities.
Selling Marijuana in Cotabato is not an isolated case. It is rampant.
These Drug Pushers are getting smarter.
They know that a very young child can not incur any criminal liability.
Philippines criminal law exempt an offender who is under 9 years of age at the time of the commission of the offense from criminal liability.
In addition, there is a special law called Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (RA 9344) which exempt from criminal liability a minor 15 years and below.
But you may argue that a 15 years old minor already knows what is right and what is wrong.
You are right that is why the law provided that the minor must have acted without discernment to be exempt.
Discernment means the ability to decide between truth and error or right and wrong.
No matter how smart these drug pushers are, they will eventually be caught, prosecuted and incarcerated or worst be killed.
You can help your communities be drug free by reporting to the Philippine National Police any drug selling activities you observe.
You can do this anonymously by using a pre-paid mobile sim card and sending a text message to 2920.
Type: PNP (space) (message) then send to 2920.