Seven students caught smoking pot in school

CEBU, Philippines - At least seven minor students in a public school in Cebu City were caught by the school administrators allegedly sniffing marijuana inside the school premises last week, the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention reported.

COSAP head Alice Utlang said the school administrators endorsed the minors to her office last week for counseling and guidance.

The names of the students and the school are being withheld by The FREEMAN owing to the nature of the case.

 “Seven na sila kabuok, ages 13 to 16. Ang lima kay first timers daw and ang duha kay tulo na ka tuig naggamit, pero on and off daw,” Utlang said.

Utlang said during her interview with the minors, they revealed that the marijuana came from Danao City. However, she said the information has yet to be verified.

She said there is also a possibility that the minors are not saying the truth because of fear.

The students will undergo the three-month counseling under a non-governmental organization and in-house psychologists of COSAP.

“Kun dili sila makatunga og usa ka session, mapun-an gyud iyang sessions. Dapat maka-undergo sila sa counseling para makahibaw sila nga wala’y nindot nga mahatag ang illegal drugs,” she said.

Utlang said that with the incident, she is urging school administrators and teachers to improve the surveillance inside the campus to prevent this from happening again.

In a related development, Utlang is hoping to push through with a seminar for parents next week dubbed as “Proper Parenting and Intervention.”

“Makaluya lang ba nga wala pa gali ta ga-sugod sa random drug test, naa nay nahitabo nga ingon ani,” she said, adding that illegal drugs should be addressed primarily at the family level.

She said COSAP will start the random drug test soon after all the necessary preparations.  (FREEMAN)