A substance recovered from a 17-year-old Grade 9 student in Bacolod City on July 20 was likely tawas, a locally known mineral commonly used as a deodorant and water purifier, and not methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, authorities said.
Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Director Police Colonel Eugene Rebadomia said laboratory examination showed that the contents of two plastic sachets initially suspected to contain illegal drugs tested negative for shabu.
Following the laboratory findings, investigators are now looking into the possibility that the student was the victim of a prank.
Secretary to the Mayor Atty. Marty Go said the Grade 9 student and another student believed to have allegedly placed the sachets inside the student’s bag have been temporarily placed under modular learning while the investigation continues.
The incident began after another student reported to a school security guard that the minor allegedly had a firearm inside his bag, according to Police Lieutenant Benjo Ballo-Allo, officer-in-charge of Police Station 3, in an earlier interview with Brigada News FM Bacolod.
When school personnel inspected the bag, they found no firearm. Instead, they discovered two sachets containing a substance initially believed to be shabu, prompting them to notify police.
The student’s mother said her son had left his bag unattended while playing basketball before the incident. She added that the teenager broke down in tears after learning what had happened.
Authorities continue to coordinate with concerned parties as they investigate how the sachets ended up inside the student’s bag.
Police said the laboratory examination ruled out the presence of shabu, while investigators continue to determine whether the substance was indeed tawas and whether the incident was the result of a prank.
