Boy, 15, three others sued for illegal drugs

CEBU, Philippines - A 15-year-old boy and his three other companions were charged before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Act of 2002 and violation of Republic Act 8294 for illegal possession of firearms.

The accused minor, together with Clayborne Labra, 22; Jofette Kenn Dayagan, 20, and Domingo Nacua, 40, all residents of Sitio Tapon, Barangay Napo, Carcar City were arrested last Tuesday by police officers who were patrolling in the area.

PO1 Kristoffer Talam, the team leader of Regional Public Safety Battalion, and his team members PO1 Dean Mark Maglinte, PO1 Ernesto Silva Jr., PO1 Wilbur Uy and PO1 Jotemar Tejano were conducting a foot patrol at around 10:40 when they spotted a group of persons at a small store, which was operating a video game machine.

While approaching the said store, the male persons, upon seeing the policemen, allegedly appeared alarmed and one of them, who was later identified as Clayborne Labra, tried to run but was immediately apprehended.

Talam then found a handgun tucked in Labra’s waist which the police officer immediately confiscated. The police asked Labra to present the pertinent documents allowing him to possess and carry the gun but he failed to do so.

Confiscated from Labra’s possession was a .9 mm caliber pistol marked NORINCO with serial no. 500772, one magazine and 10 rounds of ammunitions of .9 mm caliber pistol.

The police officers also approached the three other accused persons and noticed a tinfoil roll sticking out from Nacua’s back.

During a body search, Nacua yielded a big sachet containing a substance believed to be shabu, one tinfoil roll, four disposable lighters, a candle and cash worth amounting to P1,660 from Nacua.

On the other hand, 17 small sachets were confiscated from Dayagan while 10 pieces crumpled tin foil strips and four disposable lighters were taken from the minor suspect.

The police included the 15-year-old in the charges after it was learned through the assessment conducted by the local Department of Social Welfare and Development that he “acted with discernment” with he joined the other suspects. The boy also admitted that he had used shabu for four times and that he had knowledge that what he did was illegal.