Girl, 10, used as drug courier

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – A Grade 3 female pupil here was unwittingly used as a drug courier when her bag was found to contain a sachet of suspected shabu the other day, police said.

The 10-year-old pupil, who was inside her classroom, was looking for a pen in her bag when a paper-wrapped sachet fell from her notebook, said Superintendent Santiago Rapiz, head of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group of the city police.

Not knowing what the sachet contained, the girl, according to Rapiz, picked it up and gave it to her adviser, who sought the help of the school principal in reporting the incident to the police.

Authorities suspect that the girl was only used as a courier because there was a note written on a piece of paper inserted in her notebook, apparently addressed to the person who was supposed to pick up the illegal drug from her. The cost of the illegal drug was also stated on the note.

Police are still conducting further investigation to determine who could have used the pupil as an unwitting drug courier.

Investigation showed that the illegal drug trade thrives in the community where the girl lives.

Rapiz appealed to drug traders to spare children from their illegal activities.

He also advised parents to always check on their children to keep them away from illegal drugs.