The Northern Police District (NPD) on Thursday expressed alarm over the rise of minors being used by suspected criminal syndicates in their nefarious activities like illegal drugs and carnapping activities.

This, despite the continuous efforts by the local police to implement various measures to contain crimes and other lawlessness in the Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela (Camanava) area.

In an interview, NPD Director, Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao, cited the recent operations by the anti-drug unit of the Malabon city police who held a minor allegedly used as courier by a suspected "bigtime pusher" to deliver dried marijuana leaves to a buyer who was later arrested.

The boy, an elementary pupil told police that he had been used as courier twice and paid for by the suspected pusher everytime he is asked to deliver the stuff.

Pagdilao also cited the recent arrest by the Valenzuela City police of five minors aged 15-17 who were allegedly involved in "chop-chop" of vehicles’ spare parts and carnapping activities in the northern part of Metro Manila.

The five minors whose names were withheld were rounded up by the operatives in their hideouts in Caloocan City and Valenzuela City over the weekend.

Pagdilao said that based on reports received by his office, the minors aged from 15-17 years old, are allegedly experts in carnapping activities involving scooters, Yamaha Mio and Kawasaki motorcycles in Camanava using master keys when they operate.

Instead of being charged, they were taken to the Department of Social Welfare and Development where they were just given counselling.

Despite the successful operations of the local police through an intensified campaign against illegal vices especially involving minors, Republic Act 9344 (Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act) approved on March 22, 2006, however, protects minors from being charged with criminal offense. Because of this law, minors arrested with various offenses are just turned over to the DSWD where they are taken care of or at the Juvenile Delinquency for disposition.

Pagdilao said that criminal syndicates use minors in their criminal activities because they cannot be charged with any criminal offense being minors and sometimes police even get problems in return when arresting them.

"There are times that it poses risks, but law enforcers are taught what to do during operations in accordance with the law to avoid certain problems," Pagdilao said.