Mga kaso sa pagbebenta ng ilegal na droga sa menor-de-edad

ni PAO Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta @Magtanong Kay Attorney | March 18, 2026

Dear Chief Acosta,

Bukod sa mga kasong maaaring isampa kaugnay ng paglabag sa batas laban sa ilegal na droga, maaari rin bang managot at makasuhan ng krimen tungkol sa child abuse ang sinumang nagbenta ng ilegal na droga sa isang menor-de-edad? — Bully

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Dear Bully, 

Ang sagot sa iyong katanungan ay matatagpuan sa ating mga batas at kaugnay na mga kaso. Para sa iyong kaalaman, nakasaad sa Section 10 (a) ng Republic Act (R.A.) No. 7610, o mas kilala sa tawag na “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act," ang mga sumusunod:

“Section 10. Other Acts of Neglect, Abuse, Cruelty or Exploitation and Other Conditions Prejudicial to the Child's Development. –

Any person who shall commit any other acts of child abuse, cruelty or exploitation or to be responsible for other conditions prejudicial to the child's development including those covered by Article 59 of Presidential Decree No. 603, as amended, but not covered by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, shall suffer the penalty of prision mayor in its minimum period.”

Hinggil sa nabanggit na batas, nilinaw ng Korte Suprema kamakailan lamang, sa kasong GRAMATICA VS. PEOPLE (G.R. No. 260233, 12 August 2025), isang En Banc na desisyon sa panulat ni Honorable Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, ang sagot sa iyong nabanggit na katanungan, viz.:

“Section 10 (a) of Republic Act No. 7610 punishes the following distinct acts: (a) child abuse; (b) child cruelty; (c) child exploitation; and (d) being responsible for conditions prejudicial to the child's development. 

To be punishable under Section 10 (a) of Republic Act No. 7610, the important consideration is whether Gramatica's act of selling shabu to AAA, a minor, is prejudicial to her development. 

The Court answers in the affirmative. 

Gramatica defends that he cannot be held liable for violation of Section 10 (a) of Republic Act No. 7610 because there was no intent to debase, degrade, or demean AAAs intrinsic worth and dignity as a human being. However, selling drugs is prohibited per se and punishable by law. What is more, selling drugs to a minor, like AAA, has the effect. of impairing her dignity and worth as a human being. It infringes upon her right to grow up in a safe, wholesome, and drug-free environment.  

Verily, when an individual sells drugs to minors, the former is taking advantage of the latter's vulnerability and impressionability. Minors like AAA are still developing physically, mentally, and emotionally. Hence, exposing minors to drugs can have long-lasting and harmful effects on their health and well-being. Worse, selling drugs to minors degrades and disregards their humanity and worth as a person. It reduces them to mere objects for profit, rather than recognizing their inherent worth. Such reprehensible acts should never be tolerated. This kind of system can have destructive consequences for the minors' self-esteem, relationships, and opportunities. Further, it contributes to the degradation of society as a whole.” 

Kaugnay sa nabanggit, ang Seksyon 10 (a) ng R.A. No. 7610 ay nagpaparusa sa iba’t ibang uri ng gawain laban sa bata, kabilang ang child abuse, child cruelty, child exploitation, at ang pagiging responsable sa mga kondisyong nakasasama sa pag-unlad ng bata. Upang mapanagot sa ilalim ng nasabing probisyon, mahalagang tukuyin kung ang pagbebenta ng shabu o ilegal na droga sa isang menor-de-edaday nakapipinsala at nakasasama sa pisikal, mental, at moral na pag-unlad ng bata, na malinaw na sinagot na positibo ng Korte Suprema.

Dagdag pa ng Korte Suprema, responsable sa mga kondisyong nakasasama sa pag-unlad ng bata ang taong magbebenta ng ilegal na droga sa kanya, sapagkat sa halip na igalang ang likas na dignidad ng bata bilang tao, ginagawa siyang kasangkapan para sa kita, na may malubha at pangmatagalang pinsala hindi lamang sa kanyang pagkatao at kinabukasan, kundi pati na rin sa lipunan sa kabuuan.

Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang iyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa mga impormasyon na iyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng iyong salaysay. 

Maraming salamat sa iyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.