September 11, 2007

SECTION 1. Applicability. — This Rule, together with the pertinent provisions of the Rule on Juveniles in Conflict with the Law, the Rule on the Examination of a Child Witness, and Republic Act No. 9344 or The Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, applies to all cases involving children charged under Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The Rules of Court shall apply suppletorily.

SECTION 2. Objectives. — It is the policy of the State to safeguard the integrity of its territory and the well-being of its citizenry, particularly children, from the harmful effects of dangerous drugs on their physical and mental well-being and to defend them against acts or omissions detrimental to their development and preservation.

Pursuant to this policy and the mandate of Republic Act No. 8369, also known as The Family Courts Act of 1997, vesting exclusive jurisdiction in Family Courts to hear and decide cases against minors charged with drug-related offenses, the objective of this Rule is to ensure that the rights of children charged with violation of any of the offenses under The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are well protected, and that their interests and those of their family and the community are adequately balanced. Towards this end, the Rule aims to:

(a) provide a rule of procedure in the Family Courts or the Regional Trial Courts, as the case may be, for children charged with any of the acts penalized under The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, taking into consideration their developmental age and potential to recover from dependence on drugs and to stop substance abuse, so that they can live productive, substance-free and crime-free lives;

(b) ensure a more active and continuous judicial supervision and monitoring of the compliance by and progress of the child and family members in the treatment programs and rehabilitation services provided; and

(c) establish greater coordination among the courts, the treatment community and other community-based support agencies, the faith community, the school system and the family in responding to the needs of the child under a holistic intervention and integration policy focused on changing problem behavior rather than merely punishing criminal conduct.

SECTION 3. Interpretation. — This Rule shall be construed and interpreted liberally in favor of the child in conflict with the law, consistent with the best interest of the child, the declared state policy, the rights of the child in conflict with the law and the principle of balanced and restorative justice.

SECTION 4. Definitions. — As used in this Rule:

(a) Act — means Republic Act No. 9165 or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

(b) Administer — means any act of introducing any dangerous drug into the body of any person, with or without his/her knowledge, by injection, inhalation, ingestion or other means, or of committing any act of indispensable assistance to a person in administering a dangerous drug to himself/herself, unless administered by a duly licensed practitioner for purposes of medication.

(c) Board — refers to the Dangerous Drugs Board under Section 77, Article IX of Republic Act No. 9165.

(d) Center — means any of the treatment and rehabilitation centers for drug dependents referred to in Section 75, Article VIII of Republic Act No. 9165.

(e) Child — refers to any person above 15 years of age but below 18 under Section 6 of Republic Act No. 9344.

(f) Confirmatory Test — means an analytical test using a device, tool or equipment with a different chemical or physical principle that is more specific which will validate and confirm the result of the screening test.

(g) Controlled precursors and essential chemicals — include those listed in Tables I and II of the 1988 UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances as enumerated in the annex attached to Republic Act No. 9165.

(h) Dangerous drugs — refer to those listed in the Schedules annexed to the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, as amended by the 1972 Protocol, and in the Schedules annexed to the 1971 United Nations Single Convention on Psychotropic Substances, attached as annexes to and made an integral part of Republic Act No. 9165.

(i) Deliver — refers to any act of knowingly passing a dangerous drug or controlled precursor and essential chemical to another, personally or otherwise, and by any means, with or without consideration.

(j) Dispense — means any act of giving away, selling or distributing medicine or any dangerous drug with or without the use of prescription.

(k) Drug Dependence — as based on the Word Health Organization definition means a cluster of physiological, behavioral and cognitive phenomena of variable intensity, in which the use of a psychoactive drug takes on a high priority, thereby involving, among others, a strong desire or a sense of compulsion to take the substance; and the difficulties in controlling substance-taking behavior in terms of its onset, termination, or level of use.

(l) Drug Syndicate — means any organized group of two or more persons forming or joining together, with the intention of committing any offense prescribed under Republic Act No. 9165.

(m) Illegal Trafficking — means the illegal cultivation, culture, delivery, administration, dispensation, manufacture, sale, trading, transportation, distribution, importation, exportation and possession of any dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical.

(n) Instrument — means anything that is used in or intended to be used in any manner in the commission of illegal drug trafficking or related offenses.

(o) PDEA — refers to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

(p) Pusher — means any person who sells, trades, administers, dispenses, delivers or gives away to another, on any terms whatsoever, or distributes, dispatches in transit or transports dangerous drugs or who acts as a broker in any of such transactions, in violation of Republic Act No. 9165.

(q) Rehabilitation — refers to the dynamic process, including after-care and follow-up treatment, directed towards the physical, emotional/psychological, vocational, social and spiritual well-being, change or enhancement of a child drug dependent to enable him/her to live without dangerous drugs, enjoy the fullest life compatible with the child's capabilities and potentials and enable him/her to become a law-abiding and productive member of the community.

(r) Screening Test — means a rapid drug test performed to establish potential/presumptive positive result.

(s) Sell — means any act of giving away any dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical whether for money or any other consideration.

(t) Use — means any act of injecting, intravenously or intramuscularly, of consuming, either by chewing, smoking, sniffing, eating, swallowing, drinking or otherwise introducing into the physiological system of the body, any of the dangerous drugs or controlled precursors and essential chemicals.

SECTION 5. Mandatory Drug Test. — A child charged before the prosecutor's office with a criminal offense not penalized by the Act, but with an imposable penalty of imprisonment of not less than six years and one day, shall be subjected to a mandatory drug test.

SECTION 6. Screening Laboratory Test and Confirmatory Test. — A child taken into custody for alleged violation of the Act shall be subjected to a screening laboratory test within twenty-four hours from the time the child was taken into custody. The apprehending officer must have reasonable grounds to believe that the child, on account of physical signs or symptoms or other visible or outward manifestation, is under the influence of dangerous drugs. If the result of the test is positive, it shall be challenged by the child personally or through his/her parents, guardian, custodian or any relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, within fifteen days after receipt thereof, through a confirmatory test conducted in any accredited analytical laboratory equipped with gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry equipment or some other modern accepted method. If confirmed, the same shall be prima facie evidence that the child has used dangerous drugs, which shall be without prejudice to prosecution for other violations of the Act.

A positive screening laboratory test must be confirmed for the positive finding to be valid in court.

SECTION 7. Intake Report. — An Intake Report shall be prepared by the social welfare officer assigned to the child, as soon as the child is taken into custody by the apprehending officer pursuant to Section 10 of the Rule on Juveniles in Conflict with the Law. The report shall describe the results of a preliminary background investigation of the child, and shall form part of the records of the case to aid the proper authorities in properly addressing the substance abuse problem of the child.

SECTION 8. Voluntary Submission of a Child Drug Dependent to Confinement, Treatment and Rehabilitation. — A child who is a drug dependent or suspected to be one may — personally or through the parent, guardian or relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity — apply to the Board or its duly recognized representative for treatment and rehabilitation of the drug dependency. The Board shall then submit the matter to the court, which shall immediately order that the child be examined for drug dependency.

SECTION 9. Case Study Report. — The court shall likewise direct the court social worker to prepare and submit to it a Case Study Report for its consideration pursuant to Section 19 of the Rule on Juveniles in Conflict with the Law. The case study report shall identify the child's environmental, family and psychosocial functioning problems, including a strengths-based biophysical assessment done on the child by a Department of Health (DOH)-accredited physician, to help the court in properly addressing the substance abuse problem of the child.

SECTION 10. Examination for Drug Dependency. — The examination for drug dependency shall be conducted by an accredited physician of the DOH. If the results show that the child is a drug dependent, the court shall order that the child undergo treatment and rehabilitation in a Center designated by the Board for a period of not less than six months.

SECTION 11. Treatment and Care by a DOH-Accredited Physician. — A child drug dependent may be placed under the care of a DOH-accredited physician if:

(a) no Center is near or accessible to the residence of the child; or

(b) where the child is a first-time offender and non-confinement in a Center will not pose a serious danger to his/her family or community.

SECTION 12. Treatment Program Design. — The court shall direct the Center or DOH-accredited physician to ensure that the treatment program designed for the child shall consider the following factors:

(a) Family history of drug or substance abuse;

(b) Personality characteristics such as low self-esteem, sensation-seeking attitude, lower intellectual achievement and aggressive behavior;

(c) Gender-based violence;

(d) Lack of family or relational attachments;

(e) Peer pressure; or

(f) School or education environment.

The court shall also direct that the intervention treatment program include the active participation and collaboration of the child's family, the law enforcers, the child's school, if any, various community organizations dealing with at-risk youths, and the court system itself.

SECTION 13. Period of Confinement in a Center or Under the Care of DOH-Accredited Physician. — Confinement in a Center for treatment and rehabilitation or under the care of a DOH-accredited physician shall not exceed one year, after which time the head of the Center or the said physician, as the case may be, shall apprise the court, as well as the Board, of the status of the treatment and rehabilitation of the child. The court, together with the Board, shall determine whether further confinement or care will be for the welfare and best interest of the child drug dependent and his/her family or the community.

SECTION 14. Discharge Under the Voluntary Submission Program. — A child drug dependent under the voluntary submission program who is finally discharged from confinement shall be exempt from criminal liability under Section 15 of this Act, subject to the following conditions:

(a) He/she has complied with the rules and regulations of the Center or those imposed by the DOH-accredited physician, the applicable rules and regulations of the Board, including the after-care and follow-up program for at least eighteen months following temporary discharge from confinement in the Center or, in the case of a drug dependent placed under the care of the DOH-accredited physician, the after-care program and follow-up schedule formulated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and approved by the Board;

(b) He/she has never been charged with or convicted of any offense punishable under the Act, the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972 or Republic Act No. 6425, as amended, the Revised Penal Code, as amended, or any other special penal law;

(c) He/she has no record of escape from a Center or, if an escapee, has surrendered personally or through the parents, guardian or relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, within one week from the date of the escape; and

(d) He/she poses no serious danger to his/her person, family or community.

Should the child fail to comply with any of the above conditions, the case shall be referred to the prosecutor for regular preliminary investigation.

SECTION 15. Temporary Release from the Center, After-Care and Follow-up Treatment Under the Voluntary Submission Program. — Upon certification by the Center or the DOH-accredited physician that the child drug dependent under the voluntary submission program may be temporarily released, the court shall order such release on condition that the child shall report to the DOH for after-care and follow-up treatment, including urine testing, for a period not exceeding eighteen months under such terms and conditions that the court may impose.

The DOH-accredited physician can recommend to the court the temporary release of the child drug dependent at least forty-five days after initial admission to a facility and may likewise prescribe a comprehensive after-care and follow-up program approved by the court to which the child drug dependent should adhere in order to complete at least eighteen months.

If at any time during the period of after-care and follow-up program, the child is certified to be rehabilitated, the court shall order his/her final discharge, subject to the provisions of Section 12 of this Rule, without prejudice to the outcome of any pending case filed in court.

SECTION 16. Recommitment. — Should the DOH find that during the initial after-care and follow-up program of eighteen months, the child requires further treatment and rehabilitation in the Center or by the DOH-accredited physician, he/she shall be so recommitted. Thereafter, he/she may again be certified for temporary release and ordered released for another after-care and follow-up program pursuant to Section 13 of this Rule.

SECTION 17. Probation and Community Service Under the Voluntary Submission Program. — A child drug dependent under the voluntary submission program who is discharged as rehabilitated by the Center or DOH-accredited physician, but does not qualify for exemption from criminal liability under Section 55 of the Act, may be charged under the provisions of the Act. However, the court upon its discretion may order that the child be placed on probation and that he/she undergo community service in lieu of imprisonment and/or fine, without prejudice to the outcome of any pending case filed in court.

The child drug dependent shall undergo community service as part of his/her after-care and follow-up program which may be done in coordination with non-governmental civic organizations accredited by the DSWD, with the recommendation of the Board.

Both the after-care and follow-up programs shall employ a strengths-based approach which shall focus on reinforcing the positive internal resources of the child, such as his/her innate talents or skills, what he/she is good at, as well as what his/her life goals are and what may be done to achieve them.

SECTION 18. Filing of Charges Against a Child Drug Dependent Who is not Rehabilitated Under the Voluntary Submission Program. — A child drug dependent under the voluntary submission program who is not rehabilitated after a second commitment to the Center or a DOH-accredited physician under the voluntary submission program shall be charged and prosecuted, upon recommendation of the Board, with violation of Section 15 of the Act. If convicted, the child shall be credited for the period of confinement and rehabilitation in the Center or by the DOH-accredited physician, in the service of the sentence. In addition thereto, the child shall enjoy all the rights provided under the Rule on Juveniles in Conflict with the Law that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Act.

SECTION 19. Escape and Recommitment for Confinement and Rehabilitation Under the Voluntary Submission Program. — A child under the voluntary submission program who escapes from the Center or from the custody and care of a DOH-accredited physician may submit himself/herself for recommitment and rehabilitation within one week from such escape. The parent, guardian or relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity may, within this period, also surrender the child for recommitment and rehabilitation in which case the corresponding order shall be issued by the Board.

If the child fails to submit himself/herself or is not surrendered for recommitment or rehabilitation after one week from his/her escape, the Board shall apply to the court for a recommitment and rehabilitation order. Upon proof of previous commitment or voluntary submission of the child to the Board, the court shall issue an order for recommitment and rehabilitation within one week from submission of such proof.

If, subsequent to a recommitment, the child once again escapes from confinement, he/she shall be charged with violation of Section 15 of the Act and be subjected to compulsory confinement upon order of the Board or upon order of the court, as the case may be.

SECTION 20. Confidentiality of Records Under the Voluntary Submission Program. — The judicial and medical records of a child drug dependent under the voluntary submission program shall be confidential and shall not be used against him/her for any purpose, except to determine how many times the child by himself/herself, or through his/her parent, guardian, or relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity underwent voluntary submission for confinement, treatment and rehabilitation or commitment to a Center or to the custody and care of a DOH-accredited physician under the program.

Where the child is not exempt from criminal liability under Section 55 of the Act, or when he/she is not rehabilitated under the voluntary submission program, or when he/she escapes again from confinement after recommitment, the records mentioned in the immediately preceding provisions that are necessary for conviction may be utilized in court as evidence against such child.

SECTION 21. Compulsory Confinement of a Child Drug Dependent Who Refuses to Apply Under the Voluntary Submission Program. — Notwithstanding any law, rule and regulation to the contrary, any child found to be dependent on dangerous drugs who refuses to apply under the voluntary submission program shall, upon petition by the Board or any of its authorized representatives, be confined for treatment and rehabilitation in any Center duly designated or accredited by the DOH.

A petition for the confinement to a Center of a child alleged to be drug dependent may be filed by any person authorized by the Board with the Family Court, or, in the absence thereof, the Regional Trial Court of the province or city where such person is found.

After the petition is filed, the court shall immediately order a hearing, fix a date therefor, and serve a copy of such order on the child and his/her parents, guardian or custodian.

If the facts established at the hearing so warrant, the court shall order the child to be examined by two physicians accredited by the Board. If both physicians conclude that the child is not a drug dependent, the court shall order his/her discharge. If either physician finds the child to be a dependent, the court shall conduct a hearing and consider all relevant evidence which may be offered. If the court finds the child to be drug dependent, it shall issue an order for his/her commitment to a treatment and rehabilitation center under the supervision of the DOH. In any event, the order of discharge or order of confinement or commitment shall be issued by the court not later than fifteen days from the filing of the appropriate petition.

SECTION 22. Compulsory Submission to Treatment and Rehabilitation of a Child Drug Dependent Charged with an Offense. — If a child charged with an offense where the imposable penalty is imprisonment of less than six years and one day is found by the prosecutor or by the court, at any stage of the proceedings, to be a drug dependent, the prosecutor or the court, as the case may be, shall suspend all further proceedings and transmit copies of the records of the case to the Board.

In the event the Board determines, after the medical examination, that public interest requires that such child drug dependent be committed to a Center for treatment and rehabilitation, it shall file a petition for commitment with the Family Court or, in the absence thereof, the Regional Trial Court of the province or city where the child is being investigated or tried: Provided, that where a criminal case is pending court, the petition shall be filed in such court. The court shall take judicial notice of the prior proceedings in the case and shall proceed to hear the petition. If the court finds the child to be a drug dependent, it shall order his/her commitment to a Center for treatment and rehabilitation. The head of the Center shall submit to the court every four months, or as often as the court may require, a written report on the progress of the treatment. If the child drug dependent is rehabilitated, as certified by the Center and the Board, he/she shall be returned to the court, which committed him/her, for discharge therefrom.

Thereafter, the prosecution of the child for any offense punishable by law shall be instituted or shall continue, as the case may be. In case of conviction and the child has been certified by the treatment and rehabilitation center to have maintained good behavior, the judgment shall indicate that the child shall be given full credit for the period he/she was confined in the Center: Provided, however, that when the offense is for violation of Section 15 of the Act and the child is not a recidivist, the penalty therefor shall be deemed to have been served in the Center upon the release of the child therefrom after certification by the Center and the Board that the child has been rehabilitated.

SECTION 23. Prescription of the Offense Charged Against a Child Drug Dependent Under the Compulsory Submission Program. — The period of prescription of the offense charged against a child drug dependent under the compulsory submission program shall not run during the time that said child is under confinement in a Center or otherwise under the treatment and rehabilitation program approved by the Board.

SECTION 24. Temporary and Final Discharge of the Child from Treatment and Rehabilitation in Compulsory Submission; Recommitment. — Upon certification by the Center that the child may temporarily be discharged therefrom, the court shall order the release of the child on the condition that he/she shall report to the Board through the DOH for after-care and follow-up treatment for a period not exceeding eighteen months under such terms and conditions as may be imposed by the Board.

If at any time during the aftercare and follow-up period the Board certifies to the complete rehabilitation of the child, the court shall order his/her final discharge and the immediate resumption of the trial of the case for which the child has been originally charged. Should the Board through the DOH find at any time during the after-care and follow-up period that the child requires further treatment and rehabilitation, it shall file a petition in court for his/her recommitment.

SECTION 25. Recommitment for Confinement and Rehabilitation Under the Compulsory Submission Program in Case of Escape. — A child who escapes from the Center may submit himself/herself to the Board for reconfinement within one week from the date of his escape. The child may likewise be surrendered for recommitment within the same period by the parent, guardian or relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity.

If the child does not resubmit for confinement or is not surrendered for recommitment, the Board may apply with the court for the issuance of a recommitment order.

Upon proof of previous commitment of the child, the court shall issue an order for recommitment. If, subsequent to such recommitment, the child should escape again, he/she shall no longer be exempt from criminal liability for use of any dangerous drug, in which case, the corresponding charge for violation of Section 15 of the Act shall be filed against him/her.

SECTION 26. Effect of Final Discharge. — A child committed under Sections 20, 22 and 23 of this Rule who is finally discharged from confinement shall be exempt from criminal liability for the use of a dangerous drug under Section 15 of the Act, without prejudice to the outcome of any pending case filed in court.

SECTION 27. Non-rehabilitation After Recommitment. — A child who is not rehabilitated after a second commitment to the Center shall, upon conviction by the appropriate court, suffer the same penalties provided for under Section 15 of the Act, without prejudice to the outcome of any pending case filed in court.

SECTION 28. Confidentiality of Records Under the Compulsory Submission Program. — The provisions of Section 18 of this Rule regarding Confidentiality of Records Under the Voluntary Submission Program shall apply to a child who is rehabilitated and discharged under a compulsory submission program, or is charged with violation of Section 15 of the Act. However, the records of a child who has not been rehabilitated or who escaped but has not surrendered within the prescribed period shall be forwarded to the court and the use of those records shall be determined by the court, taking into consideration the best interest of the child and public safety.

SECTION 29. Automatic Suspension of Sentence. — If a child is under eighteen years of age at the time of the commission of the offense and is found guilty thereof, the court shall determine and ascertain any civil liability. However, instead of pronouncing the judgment of conviction, the court shall place the child under suspended sentence, without need of application. Suspension of sentence shall still be applied even if the child is already eighteen years of age at the time of the conviction.

Upon suspension of sentence and after considering the various circumstances of the child, the court shall impose the appropriate disposition measures under the Rule on Juveniles in Conflict with the Law.

While under suspended sentence, the child shall be under the supervision and rehabilitation surveillance of the Board, under such conditions that the court may impose for a period ranging from six to eighteen months.

Upon recommendation of the Board, the court may commit the child under suspended sentence to a Center, or to the care of a DOH-accredited physician for at least six months, with after-care and follow-up program for not more than eighteen months.

SECTION 30. Discharge After Compliance with Conditions of Suspended Sentence. — If the child under suspended sentence complies with the applicable rules and regulations of the Board, including confinement in a Center or care of a DOH-accredited physician, the court, upon a favorable recommendation of the Board or the physician, shall discharge him and dismiss all proceedings under Section 11 of the Act.

SECTION 31. Confidentiality of Records. — Upon the dismissal of the proceedings against the child, the court shall enter an order to expunge all official records, other than the confidential record to be retained by the Department of Justice relative to the case. Such order, which shall be kept confidential, shall restore the child to his/her status prior to the case.

SECTION 32. Non-liability for Perjury, Concealment or Misrepresentation. — The child so discharged shall not be held thereafter to be guilty of perjury, concealment or misrepresentation by reason of failure to acknowledge the case or recite any fact related thereto in response to any inquiry made for any purpose.

SECTION 33. Promulgation of Sentence. — If the child violates any of the conditions of the suspended sentence, the applicable rules and regulations of the Board exercising supervision and rehabilitative surveillance, including the rules and regulations of the Center should confinement be required, he/she shall be returned to the court which, after due notice and hearing and after finding sufficient basis therefor, shall execute the judgment of conviction.

SECTION 34. Probation in Lieu of Imprisonment. — In cases involving violations of Sections 11 and 15 of the Act, the court, upon application and in its discretion, may place the child under probation. Probation may still be availed of even if the sentence provided under the Act is higher than that provided under the Probation Law.

The supervision and rehabilitative surveillance of the child who is placed under probation shall be undertaken by the Board or the DOH-accredited physician through the DOH in coordination with the Board of Pardons and Parole and the Probation Administration. Upon compliance with the conditions of the probation, the Board or the DOH-accredited physician shall submit a written report to the court recommending termination of probation and final discharge of the probationer. Thereupon, the court shall issue such an order.

SECTION 35. Compliance with Community Service Orders. — In cases involving violations of Section 15 of the Act, the court may impose community service in lieu of imprisonment. When so imposed, the order of the court shall be complied with under such conditions, time and place as it may determine according to its discretion, and upon the recommendation of the Board or the DOH-accredited physician.

The completion of the community service by the child shall be under the supervision and rehabilitative surveillance of the Board or the DOH-accredited physician during the period required by the court. Thereafter, the Board or physician shall tender a report to the court on the manner of compliance with the community service. The court in its discretion may order the extension of the community service or issue an order of final discharge.

In both cases, the confidentiality of the judicial records shall be maintained.

SECTION 36. Credit in Service of Sentence. — If the sentence promulgated by the court for the child requires imprisonment, the period spent by the child in the Center or under the care of the physician during the suspended sentence shall be deducted from the sentence to be served.

SECTION 37. Records to be kept by the Department of Justice (DOJ). — The DOJ shall keep a confidential record of the proceedings on suspension of sentence, and the record shall not be used for any other purpose unless beneficial to the child and ordered by the Court that handled the case.

SECTION 38. Liability of a Parent or Guardian Who Refuses to Cooperate with the Board or any Concerned Agency. — Any parent or guardian who, without valid reason, refuses to cooperate with the Board or any concerned agency in the treatment and rehabilitation of a child, or in any manner prevents or delays the after-care, follow-up or other programs for the welfare of the child drug dependent, whether under a voluntary or a compulsory submission program, may be cited for contempt by the court.

SECTION 39. Gender-Sensitivity Training. — No personnel of rehabilitation and training facilities shall handle children in conflict with the law without having undergone gender-sensitivity training.

SECTION 40. Effectivity. — This Rule shall take effect on November 5, 2007, after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation not later than October 5, 2007.

(Rule on Children Charged Under Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, A.M. No. 07-8-2-SC)