MANILA, Philippines - Authorities arrested a teenage actor and three others while they were smoking marijuana during an international music festival in Clarkfield, Pampanga, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said on Tuesday.
PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac Jr. said that the 17-year-old teen actor starred in the hit TV series, “Galema†and a former contestant of a popular reality TV show.
The other suspects were identified as Juan Paulo Serafica, 19; Geano Dionisio, 23, both residents of Quezon City; and another 17-year-old minor who was with the group, Cacdac said.
Reports said that last Feb. 23, combined elements of PDEA Regional Office 3, PDEA Special Enforcement Service, Public Safety Company, Angeles City police and 302nd Air Intelligence and Security Squadron, Philippine Air Force, who were deployed during the 7107 International Music Festival, Global City, Clarkfield, Pampanga arrested the suspects after they were caught while in the act of smoking pot during the music festival just before midnight.
Three persons were also invited for questioning.
Authorities seized from the group a stainless box containing marijuana dried leaves, a marijuana stick, a blue tablet suspected to be valium and a smoking pipe with marijuana residue.
Appropriate cases for violation of Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 15 (Use of Dangerous Drugs), Article II, of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared for filing in court against the suspects.
Both the 17-year-old boys will be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development in San Fernando, Pampanga.
The PDEA said that although they are minors, they will be criminally liable under Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, if the court finds them guilty of the drug case.