Minors nabbed in Navotas drug raid to undergo rehab —PDEA

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said the minors who were arrested in a drug raid in Navotas City on Wednesday are set to undergo rehabilitation under the agency's "Sagip Batang Solvent" project.

The raid on Wednesday led to the arrest of 16 people, including the alleged drug supplier in the area identified as "Negro" and twelve minors who were reportedly tasked to sell drugs in the Navotas Fish Port area.

In an interview on GMA News TV's "Quick Response Team," PDEA spokesperson Derrick Carreon said that, apart from cutting off the supply of illegal drugs in the area, the operation also aimed to "rescue" children who were involved in the illegal drug operations.

"Ang intensyon po namin bukod sa tanggalin 'yung source ng ilegal na droga doon sa lugar na 'yon, ay sagipin po 'yung mga batang ginagamit po nila," Carreon said.

The spokesperson also confirmed that minors who were arrested in the raid are set to undergo intervention at facilities as part of the "Sagip Batang Solvent" project launched by PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino.

"Mayroon tayong ilulunsad nitong taon na 'to na tinatawag na 'sagip bata solvent,' kabilang na rin po rito ang mga batang ganito na nanggagamit nga po bilang runner, tiga-tariya o tiga-hatak ng droga at natututo na ring gumamit at magbenta ng ilegal na droga," he said.

"Magsasagawa po tayo ng education at livelihood program para sa kanila at nang bata pa lamang, malaman nila na mayroon na maayos at marangal na kabuhayan ibes sa pagkasangkot sa ilegal na droga," he added.

Carreon clarified that the raid was a result of over two months of surveillance operations and that they have footage of some of the minors using illegal drugs. 

"Ilulunsad po natin ito (Sagip Batang Solvent) ngayong buwan ng Pebrero ngunit ngayon pa lang po sinimulan na natin dahil sa reklamo na rin ng mga residente doon at, batay po sa aming actual na surveillance,  nakita po namin na talagang hetong mga bata, inaabuso doon," he said.  

When asked for how long the children are expected to undergo the said program, Carreon said: "Heto po ay isang programa na it will take about three to four months minimum." 

Aside from the PDEA, Carreon said the program also taps other stakeholders including social welfare workers, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Department of Education. —Margaret Claire Layug/ LDF, GMA News