THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Davao Region blamed the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act for several difficulties the drug agency is confronted with.
"No one likes that law. That law is a headache," PDEA Regional Director Roybel Sanchez said in a recent interview.
He said the law has become an excuse for the youth to commit crimes without fear of being punished that has led the city's youth into lives of lawlessness.
Among others, Sanchez said that drug-related offenses, when committed near schools and other educational institutions, are always given maximum penalties regardless of the degree of the offense.
"Section 5, Article 2 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 states that if a drug-related crime is committed within 100 meters of a school, the maximum penalties will be imposed, especially to drug pushers who 'conduct business' near school premises," Sanchez said.
In the Dangerous Drugs Act, Sanchez said, penalties are typically commensurate to the quantity of drugs in question. However, if a drug-related offense is connected to using minors or committed near a school, that particular mitigating feature is overridden.
In a talk with some children of urban poor families enrolled in public schools, it was admitted that while there are adult drug pushers preying on students around their schools, most source of drugs are students themselves.
One girl said that a classmate's family is even into the drug business and her classmate brings the stash to distribute to students hanging out in a notorious hangout just outside the school.
There appears to be other ways in which minors are used to circumvent other existing laws.
"But we do not wish to disclose ways on how they do it since we do not want other people to learn how to do the same thing," Sanchez said.
Since enactment of the Juvenile Justice Law, a sizeable number of youth in the city have abused the immunity from prosecution.
In essence, Sanchez said, this law has so many flaws that it has become more of a hindrance than a boost when it comes to protecting the youth.
Sanchez said their anti-drug awareness campaign is focused on schools in its aim to curb the region's perennial drug problem. He thus urged schools to focus on their programs that educate the youth about the ill effects of drugs.
"In a meeting with Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, PDEA expressed concern about the relative ease of acquiring illegal drugs in the vicinity of schools, and it is important for school administrators to hold class lectures and discussions that aim to educate the youth on the ill effects of these substances," Sanchez said.
Among the several reasons the youth to get involved in drugs, he said, include family issues, peer pressure, curiosity and ignorance.
"These should be the main talking points of any discussion about how to help the youth avoid drugs," he said.
Sanchez said parents also have a big responsibility in eradicating the drug problem adding that parents should also check for signs and symptoms of drug abuse among their children.
"If a parent notices considerable changes in a child's behavior patterns -- sudden laziness, shifting sleep patterns, a propensity for violent acts -- then it is a sign that their kids may be abusing drugs," Sanchez said.
The director said that parental support is just as important as support coming from the school administration.