(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte is slated to meet the 12 minors who were being used as drug couriers and were “rescued” by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Navotas.
PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino made the revelation in a radio interview on Friday, Jan. 18.
According to Aquino, the meeting could take place next week.
“Hindi niya akalain na yung mga ganung edad ay ginagamit na as couriers,” Aquino said, noting that Duterte told him he almost cried when he learnt of the children’s plight.
He said Duterte had talked to Speaker Gloria Arroyo and Senator Richard Gordon so the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act could be amended to make way for a lower age of criminal liability, or nine years old.
“These are criminals in the making. These are the druglords or the big-time pushers in the making,” Aquino said.
The 12 minors, aged 4 to 15, were “rescued” in a buy-bust operation held by PDEA operatives on Wednesday, Jan. 16.
Aquino said that apart from being used as drug couriers, the children–who he said were also drug users—were being used to maintain drug dens.
Senator Leila de Lima slammed PDEA for its handling of the children, saying it should have just issued a recommendation for them to be sent to Bahay Pag-asa for reformation.
Aquino has denied PDEA “paraded” the children to the media, saying they were taken to a PDEA vehicle soon after they were “rescued.”
