Bacolod teen investigated over suspected marijuana in school

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Authorities are investigating a 17-year-old public high school student after school personnel recovered three sachets of suspected marijuana valued at PHP 1,000 during a routine entrance inspection Wednesday.

Police Capt. Andy Ofalia, commander of Police Station 5, said police received a call from the school about the incident shortly before noon.

Ofalia said a school security guard found the sachets in the student’s belt bag during an inspection at the entrance gate.

Personnel also recovered a ceramic pipe, scissors, and a lighter from the bag.

The student was brought to the principal’s office before authorities took him to the Social Development Center for protective custody.

Ofalia said the suspected marijuana was submitted for laboratory testing to confirm its composition.

The student’s aunt has coordinated with authorities as investigators work to determine how he came to possess the items, Ofalia said.

Police are limiting the information released because the student is a minor and the laboratory results remain pending.

Republic Act No. 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, requires authorities to protect the identities and records of children alleged to have committed an offense.

The incident came two days after school personnel recovered about 30 grams of white crystalline material, initially suspected to be methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, from a 17-year-old Grade 9 student at another public high school in the city.

Laboratory testing later determined that the substance was alum, locally known as tawas, and not methamphetamine hydrochloride.

The material had initially been assigned an estimated value of PHP 204,000 before the laboratory examination cleared the student of illegal drug possession.

Separately, the Bacolod City Police Office has been conducting active-shooter simulation exercises in public schools amid heightened concerns over campus security.

The exercises aim to strengthen school safety, improve emergency preparedness, and enhance coordination among schools, police, and other responding agencies.

The drills followed the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, where police said two students, ages 14 and 15, opened fire, killing three classmates and injuring at least 20 others.