A barangay tanod apprehended a Grade 5 student Monday afternoon after the latter was caught sniffing shabu in Barangay 19, Bacolod City.

Police refused to identify the 11-year-old minor, who is currently a student at an elementary school in the city.

Authorities said, around 9:00 a.m., the minor visited the area where they were apprehended with a “friend,” but was allegedly not aware they were intending to engage in illegal drugs.

The minor claimed they were ordered by the friend, adding, it was their first time to use the illicit substance.

The said minor was turned over by barangay tanods to Police Station 4 following the incident.

With regard to the ongoing debate over lowering the age of criminal liability, Bacolod City Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) head, Pacita Tero, earlier expressed her opposition to the reduced age limit, noting, if the criminal cases involving minors are studied, most of those who committed the crime are victims of circumstances and abuse.

In addition, senatorial candidate, former Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Rafael Alunan III, voiced similar opinions, asserting, “There are no delinquent children, only delinquent parents.”/DGB, WDJ