The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is hopeful that the Department of Education (DepEd) would consider the conduct of drug testing to students enrolled in the secondary level.
Derick Carreon, the director of PDEA laboratory service, said they are still pursuing their request with the DepEd for the drug test despite previous rejections.
“(In our) last discussion (with DepEd) it was not supported,” Carreon said. “But we are hopeful that it will be considered.”
He said they are seeking another schedule with the DepEd to continue discussing the matter.
Carreon said they are hoping that the DepEd will follow the move of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), which is already mandating drug testing in the tertiary level.
“We would like to replicate this effort (hoping the) DepEd will consider (drug test) even just in secondary level,” he added.
The PDEA officers cited the Jan. 16 raid in Navotas City where they rescued 12 minors, as young as 11 year-old who were involved in facilitating the illegal drug operation
He said those children should have been in school.
“Pity those children,” he said.
Carreon said they are coordinating with the social welfare officers to determine the degree of the parents’ neglect because it is already a trend that they are allowing children to be engaged in illegal drug trade.
“With that, we have courage to file (charges) against the parents for their neglect,” he said, insisting that parents should be liable so that they will not neglect their children.
