Two Iloilo students caught carrying knives at school

By Jennifer P. Rendon

ILOILO CITY — Two high school students were found carrying bladed weapons during a routine security screening at a school in the City Proper district.

The two boys, both 16-year-old Grade 10 students, were about to attend classes on July 28 when a handheld metal detector emitted a high-pitched beep as they were screened.

The students attend the same school where five other students had previously been caught using marijuana.

Capt. Jesus Cambay III, chief of Iloilo City Police Station 7, said one boy was carrying a regular knife, while the other had a butterfly knife, or balisong.

The students, both residents of the Molo district, claimed they carried the weapons for protection.

They alleged that a group of young men from Molo had been waiting outside the school and threatening to harm them.

Cambay expressed doubt about their claims, saying police officers had been deployed to schools following a fatal shooting at a school in Tacloban City.

The weapons were confiscated, and the two students were sent home.

Cambay said he would attend a case conference with representatives from the school, the City Social Welfare and Development Office, and the ICPS 7 Women and Children Protection Desk.

He said they would discuss the appropriate interventions for the students.

It was learned that this was not the first time students had been caught carrying bladed weapons at the same school.

Cambay said the school had previously turned over at least three bladed weapons to police.

A day earlier, three students were caught smoking suspected dried marijuana leaves inside the same school.

A teacher caught the teenagers, ages 14, 15, and 16, smoking from a glass tooter in a corner of a condemned room at about 2 p.m. Monday.

The students were found with a glass tooter containing visible dried marijuana leaves.

Cambay said the teenagers appeared oblivious to their actions and were giggling uncontrollably, which he described as a common reaction after marijuana use.

Teachers and faculty members had reportedly become more vigilant for possible drug use among students after two pupils were expelled the previous week for using marijuana.

The two students admitted using marijuana and identified their alleged source.

They were expelled from the school.

The 15- and 16-year-old students were brought to Balay Dalayunan, while the 14-year-old child at risk was placed under the care of the City Social Welfare and Development Office.

Cambay said complaints for alleged violations of Sections 11, 12, and 15 of Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, were filed against the 15- and 16-year-old students.

Section 11 covers possession of dangerous drugs, Section 12 covers possession of drug paraphernalia, and Section 15 covers the use of dangerous drugs.

Under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, children older than 15 but younger than 18 are exempt from criminal liability unless authorities determine that they acted with discernment, while children 15 or younger are subject to intervention programs.